The Havana Café, Tampa, Florida
“José, tienes que limpiar las mesas. Los clientes están esperando. Pronto!”
“José, you have tables to clear. Customers are waiting. Pronto!”
“I’ll be right there, Carmina. Four tables are ready.”
Carmina to Diego, “Four pressed Cubanos. All the way. Pronto!” “Yes, Carmina, orders are up.” “Senors, there’s a booth over there. All set and ready for you,” said Carmina.
“Hello, I’m Alana, your beverages?” “Mango Tango.” “Cafe con Leche.” “Primo water.” “A Coconut Creme, please.” “Thank you, gentlemen.” “Here you are. Mango Tango, Cafe con Leche, Primo water, and a Coconut Cream. I see your sandwiches are ready. Cubano, Cubano, Cubano, and Cubano. Enjoy!”
“José, tienes que limpiar las mesas. Los clientes están esperando. Pronto!” “
“José, you have tables to clear. Customers are waiting. Pronto!”
José is a busboy. He’s the only busboy. He has three things to do. He clears the tables. He washes the dishes, and he sets the tables. And he does whatever he’s told to do. He never complains. Always greets customers with a smile. He has class. He has finesse.
Alana is the hostess and server. She greets guests, seats them, and is very attentive to their needs. She greets all guests with “Welcome, I’m Alana. May I have the honor of serving you? ” She is friendly. She has class. She has finesse.
Diego is the cook and sandwich maker. Prepares sandwiches custom to order. He does it well and the customers know it. Never forgets to make the sandwiches just right to the customer’s delight. He takes orders well.
Carmina knows how to yell them out to him. “Hey, Diego. We have eight guests waiting. Cubano, chilli. Cubano, gazpachos. Cubano, avocado. Cubano, salad. Cubano, pressed and cut. Cubano, vegetables, no meat, and two Cubano, Cubano. Got it?” “Yes, Carmina.”
Diego thinks to himself, She’s a bossy thing. So demanding. I don’t know how much longer I can take her. She’s obnoxious. But, I have a job to do. So get to it, Diego. Pronto! By the way, he has class and he has finesse, too. He knows how to take good care of the luncheon guests.
Now, there’s Carmina. She is the owner and the manager. Some finesse, but loses it when the pressure is on. She panics when the luncheon crowd increases. She gets overwhelmed by their demands and needs to get them in and out and on their way. She yells out orders, she rings up sales. It’s up to her to keep the patrons moving at a steady pace.
She is very dependent on José, Alana, and Diego. Without them, she would be a nervous wreck, but she already is. She can lose her patience and can be rude to demanding customers. No longer a friendly greeting. Just herding the cattle in and out the door. Always makes sure no one leaves without paying, even if the service is bad. She ain’t in business for nothing. No free food. Always thinking, no free lunch on me. This ain’t the soup kitchen. These people, all dressed in business attire, think they can run my business. Oh no, I run this show.
“José, tienes que limpiar las mesas. Los clientes están esperando. Pronto!”
“José, you have tables to clear. Customers are waiting. Pronto!”
“Hey, José, can you help me out? I have eight guests to seat. I need two tables pulled together, now! Please hurry up. Customers are waiting. Pronto!” Now, Alana is feeling the pressure. José to Alana, “Right away, boss. Pronto!” Both laugh.
José to Alana, “Just look at her. She’s about to crack up. About ready to snap at any moment.” Alana says, “If you can’t take the heat, get out of the kitchen.” “José, I need to tell you something. I’m leaving after this shift. Start at the Barcelona on Friday. Carmina doesn’t know. I will wait till the rush is over, and before I leave at three, I will tell her. I have to leave, the Barcelona is a big step up for me.” “The Barcelona? You’re going to work there? Can you take me with you? It makes me sad, but I’m glad for you. You deserve to be at the Barcelona, you have class and you have finesse. l will miss you.” Alana hugs José and gives him a kiss on the cheek. She holds his hands and says, “Your day will come. I know you have a dream. It will happen for you. Dreams do come true.”
It’s just past noon, the line grows in size and many are waiting outside the door. Carmina sees them through the smudge filled glass. The name “Havana Cafe” is painted on the glass and it has peeled and cracked over the years. So has Carmina. Peeled and nearly cracked for good.
Carmina is ringing up sales at the register. She says, “Is your lunch satisfactory? Thank you.” “Is your lunch satisfactory?” “Yes, Carmina. Are you okay? You really look stressed. I’m concerned about you,” said Anna Marie. “Oh, I’m fine. Just a bit nervous. That’s all.” In a low voice to Anna Marie, “I have issues, and I’m seeing the doctor. He’s really helping me out. He’s pushing me to shut this place down. But, it’s Harry’s dream. That was forty-five years ago. Got to keep the business going for him.” “Just concerned, Carmina. Glad you are getting help. Love you dear.” A quick hug and Anna Marie is on her way.
“Senora, please, my client and I have to sign some papers. Only twenty minutes, then we must go. A table for two?” “Yes, senor, right over there in the corner. It’s private and quiet there.”
A very impatient businesswoman says, “What’s taking so long? You are so disorganized.” ”Do my best, lady.” “Don’t you know anything about time management? Is the manager here?” “You’re looking at her.” “This is ridiculous. I want to talk with the owner.” “You’re looking at her.” The lady leaves in a huff, saying to customers waiting in line, “Hey, you others, it’s not worth the wait. I’d leave, if I were you.”
“I need a table now!” said irritated, demanding man. Carmina responds, “Well, is that so? Seat yourself at that dirty table over there. Someone may be with you soon.”
“José, tienes que limpiar las mesas. Los clientes están esperando. Pronto!”
“José, you have tables to clear. Customers are waiting. Pronto!”
José responds, “Okay, Carmina, okay.” Carmina is feeling more pressure at the front counter. Continues to take orders and ring up sales. “That will be ten dollars and ninety-nine cents. Gracias, come back soon.” “Don’t think so. You are so slow. Can’t you speed it up? Here’s a quarter. Next time, you may get a dime.” “You are too kind, sir. Thank you for the tip. Have a mint on me.” Next in line, a man throws money on the counter, saying, “It’s all there. I know you can’t count.” He leaves and curses as he goes out the door.
It’s the end of the lunch rush. Carmina, with heart pounding and feeling dizzy, sits in a chair and says, “Maybe my doctor is right. This has become too much for me. I just hate to disappoint, Harry.” Alana sits down at table with Carmina. “I need to tell you something. I’m leaving. Start at the Barcelona on Friday. It’s been great working here, but I must move on.” Carmina shocked at the news, starts shaking and says to Alana, “What am I going to do? I depend on you and José so much. Please don’t leave.” “I’ve got to go. Good luck.”
“José, it’s just me and you and Diego, now. I need you to do Alana’s job, too. So, please don’t let me down.” “I won’t, Carmina, I promise.” So weeks go by, and they manage to get the customers taken care of as best they could.
Two gentlemen are waiting to be seated. Carmina greets them and beckons to José to assist.
“José, tienes que limpiar las mesas. Los clientes están esperando. Pronto!”
“José, you have tables to clear. Customers are waiting. Pronto!”
“Come this way sirs, welcome to the Barcelona, I mean, to the Havana. I have a table over there.” José starts to daydream, I need to move on, too. I have to go to a better restaurant where I can use my finesse. I have class and know how to take good care of the customers. I want to go to the Barcelona, too. Maybe my dream will come true. I will pray to the Virgin. She will intercede for me. Thank you, holy mother of God. He continues to do as he is told. He greets all guests with a genuine smile. He says it again,” Welcome to Barcelona, I mean, Havana. This way, please.”
“Please, senora, seat us now. We don’t have much time.” “Alana, it’s you. Welcome back. Ready to work?” Alana replies, “No, Carmina, my friend and I just need two cafe con leches and flans.”
“José, we have special guests, seat them now. They are already over there. Treat them nice.” “Yes, ladies, welcome to the Barcelona, I mean, Havana.” Both women laugh. “Alana, it’s you. So good to see you, and you, ma’am, welcome as well. The best dining experience for you. At your service.”
“We’re actually here to see you. I wanted Maria to see you in action.” Maria to José, “You are just what I need at the Barcelona. You do your job so well. You have class. You have finesse.” José to Maria, “Thank you so much. I do my best.” Maria to José, “Here’s my card, come see me.” José looks at the business card. Barcelona. Maria Barcelona, General Manager. “Wow,” said José. “I’m Maria Barcelona. It’s our family name and business. Established for nearly fifty years. Excuse me, I have a phone call to make. I’ll be right back.”
”Alana to José, “I brought Maria here to see you in action. I can tell she is pleased. She would never give anyone her business card, unless she is serious about hiring them. I’ll see you soon at the Barcelona.” José smiles, gives Alana a hug, then holds her by her hands saying, “You came through for me.” “Yes, I did, José. I planned it all along that you would go with me.”
Maria returns, “José, I’ll see you on Wednesday. We will talk about what you will do at the Barcelona. You will fit in well. Welcome to the Barcelona.” José gets hired and is working at the Barcelona. He is so happy and taking good care of the guests. All done with class and finesse.
By week’s end, Carmina tells customers, particularly the regulars, “I’m closing the restaurant. Next Friday, I will close the doors for good. My doctor and Harry would want me to do it. I’m taking their advice.” Patrons, each, tell Carmina, “Thank you so much for being here for us.” “It’s been my pleasure. Harry would be so proud to hear your kind words.” All applaud. “By the way, you all, I’ll see you at the Barcelona. Not to work, but to enjoy a delicious meal, their sensational service, all done with class and finesse.”
José gets his dream. Dreams do come true. “Welcome to the Barcelona,” José with a bright smile. He made his dream come true with the help of Alana, Maria, and Carmina. They prepared him to become his very best.
Occasionally, José would fondly remember…
“José, tienes que limpiar las mesas. Los clientes están esperando. Pronto!”
“José, you have tables to clear. Customers are waiting. Pronto!”
Copyright 2026 Frank Clark