What's In A Name?

The most frequently asked question at the restaurant is: "Who is Havana Hannah?" And you will find the staff reluctant to tell, or else telling you different stories about who she is. "I am!" they occasionally proclaim.

What can we tell you? Well, first of all, "Hannah" is a Hebrew name meaning "God’s favor", or "God has blessed". And certainly being able to open this new business; forming new relationships and growing to love this community and it's citizens; and living a busy and purpose-filled life is a blessing -- is it not?

"Hannah" also coincidentally rhymes with Havana -- which makes it easy for you to remember our restaurant’s name.

But "Havana Hannah" can really be whoever you want her to be. She's you, she's me, she's that woman walking down Main Street. She's the spirit of Alice Fager the woman who first ran a nineteenth century millinery shop in the building that is now Havana Hannah's Cafe.

In our opinion, "Havana Hannah" is the living spirit of Main Street, Havana, looking toward the future and back to the past...it's a spirit of blessing to all of our customers. Havana Hannah's Cafe is a place for good food, a quiet lunch, fine music, a sampling of antiques, and scenes of the Illinois River – just to remind us of where we are.

In our first few weeks of opening business we asked our customers to tell us who they imagined Havana Hannah to be. Did they imagine a 1920's flapper who witnessed Al Capone gambling in Havana.... the hard-working wife of a commercial fisherman living in a houseboat on the river front....or an immigrant whose family has settled here to find their fortune....?

Customers wrote their stories on cards provided at the tables while they waited for their food to be served. Stories were then collected and entered into a drawing. Authors whose names were drawn won a free lunch for sharing their creativity. To read some of these clever writings we invite you to scroll down to the bottom of this blog where stories are printed.

Hannah's Hosts Opportunities for Crafters

As part of Havana Hannah's "Beat the Winter Blahs" program series, the restaurant hosted a "Stamp'n Up" Make & Take party, Sunday, February 22nd. The event was presented by Stamp'n Up Consultant Paula Lane of Bath.

Attendees enjoyed examining a wonderful display of hand-crafted & stamped cards, gift bags, boxes, and photo books; perused the newly released Stamp'n Up product catalog; then delved into making five lovely cards to take home. Refreshments were also provided.

Stamping and Scrapbooking parties are today what quilting bees were in previous eras. Not just a time to work on crafts and socialize witth kindred spirits, but a time for sharing ideas and developing skills as an artisan. More such events are planned at Havana Hannah's and we hope you'll join us.

Our next event for crafters will be an All-Day Scrap on Saturday, March 21st, hosted by Toni Hutchison. Vendors will also be available to provide supplies and ideas for your scrapbook projects. For further information about this event or future Stamp'n Up Make & Take workshops call 309-224-7950. Come join the fun and be sure to bring your own ideas to share as well!

Antiques & Uniques

Havana Hannah's offers an ecclectic and interesting array of antiques and hand-made items for sale, from local collectors and artisans. Check out the vintage kitchen items from Green Barn Collectibles; one-of-kind necklaces and bracelets by Jo Skoglund jewelry; hand-knit scarves and wash cloths by Hannah's Friends Nancy and Katie; home-made soaps, lotions, scrubs, and fragrances by Small Town Soapworks; prints and collages by local artists; and an endless selection of dishes, glassware, and home decorating items from area antique lovers.

Fun, Feathers and Frills at Hannah's

Undaunted by superstitions of bad luck on Friday the 13th, Havana Public Library District and Havana Hannah's decided to partner in hosting a special event -- A Fancy Nancy Tea Party, for young ladies between the ages of 3 and 10, who enjoy reading the popular "Fancy Nancy" books. Just who is "Fancy Nancy" you may wonder?.... Well, she's a small child who loves to dress in fancy things and use big words. She's a storybook character that encourages children to explore expanding their vocabulary and experiences through reading and make-believe.

The event proved to be of great interest to young readers who attended the event , with mothers, aunts and grandmothers in tow, dressed "to the nines", in their best feather boas, sequins, fishnet hosiery, frills, wings, and tiaras !
The event featured a story reading with guest reader Diane Stelter; craft activities; and tea and refreshments.

All in all an excellent time was enjoyed by everyone and for the next seven days, bits of glitter and feathers kept appearing here and there throughout the restaurant. Alice Fager, owner of the original hat and glove shop once operated in the building, would have been pleased to see so many ladies in such glamourous finery.

Le Menu

All Sandwich Baskets
$6.50 each

*Our sandwiches are prepared fresh daily and packaged for quick,

ready-to-eat service. Baskets include sandwich, chips and a pickle.

You-Know-Who’s Famous Chicken Salad
This beloved sandwich from the former "Cup & Saucer restaurant" is back by popular demand! Home-made chicken salad with lettuce served on a French croissant.

The Sassy Chicken Wrap
Something different.......chicken with a twist! chicken, bleu cheese crumbles, cranberries, spinach, cream cheese, mayonnaise, and pecans all wrapped up in a whole wheat tortilla.

The Country Club
Slices of honey-roasted ham, turkey, roast beef, lettuce, tomato, Swiss and colby-jack cheese on an onion roll.

Hannah’s Classic Ham & Swiss
Honey-roasted ham and Swiss cheese, lettuce, tomato & our special blend of mayonnaise & stone-ground mustard on marbled rye bread.

Turkey & Trimmings
A generous slice of turkey breast, layered with lettuce, tomato, Swiss and pepper-jack cheeses on Vienna wheat bread.

Veggie Lavash
A Spinach "lavash" (wrap) filled with our special cream cheese spread, spinach, tomato, cucumber, mushrooms and slices of provolone and pepper-jack cheese. Colorful and yummy.

Tuna-in-a-Pita
Tuna salad and romaine lettuce tucked in a pita pocket and topped with black olives and pickled peppers.

Salads:

Garden Variety
Mixed greens, carrots, tomato, cucumber, celery, and mushroom slices, topped with grated cheese and croutons..........$4.00

Low-carb Salad
Turkey, carrots, celery, tomatoes, cucumbers, mushrooms, bacon, sunflower seeds, cheddar and Parmesan cheese..........$5.00


Chef Salad
Ham, turkey, a hard boiled egg, cucumber, green pepper, and tomatoes, topped with grated cheese, and croutons..........$5.75


Asian Salad
Mixed greens, pineapple, mandarin oranges, cranberries, mushroom slices, pecans, bacon, and bleu cheese crumbles topped with toasted sesame soy dressing ..........$5.50



The California Salad
Yet another "Cup & Saucer" favorite-
chunks of chicken, seasonal fruit,
cheddar cheese, croutons and cashews..........$5.50


Dressing Choices: Ranch, Bleu Cheese, Raspberry Vinagrette, Thousand Island, Italian, Poppy Seed,, Asian Toasted Sesame, and Honey Mustard.

Combo Plates
Your choice of two:
½ sandwich * side salad * cup of soup
$5.50

Sides:

Cup of Raw Veggies with Dip

(Baby carrots, celery, broccoli, & cauliflower with dip)..........$1.75

Fruit Cup

(Strawberries, red and white seedless grapes, & pineapple chunks)..........$1.50

Potato Chips..........$ .75 cents

Tri-colored Corn Chips..........$.75 cents

Soup of the Day..........$1.75 cup / $3.00 bowl

Beverages:

Soft Drinks
(Pepsi, Diet Pepsi, Coke, Diet Coke, 7-Up, Sprite, A & W Root beer cream soda)..........$ .95 cents

Bottled Water..........$ .75 cents

Starbuck’s Frappaccino
(Vanilla, Caramel or Coffee)..........$2.75

Very Fine Fruit Juices
(Apple, orange juice, and cranberry)..........$1.75

V-8 Vegetable Juice..........$1.25

Coffee

(Regular or Decafwith one refill) ..........$ 1.25 small /$1.75 large to-go cup

Flavored Coffee..........add .50 cents per cup

Hot Teas..........$ .95 cents (French Vanilla / Regular & Decaf; Vanilla Chai; Spiced Chai / Regular & Decaf; Jasmine Green; Lemon Lift; Plantation Mint; English Teatime; Earl Grey; and Constant Comment .)

Bottled Iced Tea..........$1 .95

Flavoring Syrups for Coffees, Teas and Sodas..........add .50 cents

(Flavors: Raspberry, Vanilla, Hazlenut, Irish Cream, Cinnamon, Chocolate, and Peppermint.)

Desserts:

Check out our bakery counter for daily specials and selections of cookies, cakes, pies, and muffins! By the bite, by the slice, or by the dozen, there’s a little bit of something for everyone.