Citizen Caña
Rum and Empanadas in the Mission

It’s not not possible to get into Cuba.

But it ain’t easy. Well, unless you like swimming long distances or pretending you’re Canadian.

One solution: have it come to you, in convenient restaurant form...

Say hola to Caña, a Cuban-centric sanctuary replete with the requisite mojitos and empanadas, now soft-open in the Mission.

The scene here: a bit like that Havana gathering of the mobsters in The Godfather: Part II. That is, if said gathering had taken place in a big loft space with glittering chandeliers and sweeping white curtains. And if Hyman Roth pressed his own sugarcane for making a mean mojito.

You have a couple possible moves here. For a little warmth, opt for seats at the chef’s counter overlooking the wood-burning oven. If you want something more formal—say, for a certain upcoming romantic holiday (Presidents’ Day, of course)—the dining room’s vibe is all white tablecloth.

Wherever you sit, you’ll want to order the shredded-pork lechón asado, some beef empanadas and maybe a potato/chorizo flatbread for the table. To wash it down: a gin-spiked But Hemingway Ain’t Cuban, or perhaps the reposado/serrano-chili Some Like It Hot. Those should power you through their eventual live-music nights with Afro-Cuban jazz and/or salsa.

If they don’t, nothing will.