Onto the main courses and things continued to please.

I had ordered the manisero con pollo (£15.75). Apparently it translates as the Peanut Seller’s Song, and as the name suggests is a dish of chicken in a creamy peanut sauce with a hint of garlic, lime, chilli and coconut. It came – you guessed it – with Cuban rice and was fantastic. Very sweet with more than a passing resemblance to satay. Sadly I struggled to finish it.

Again the show-stopper dish was my husband’s. He had ordered two skewers of chicken and chorizo (£15.95 for two or £22.95 for four) from the grill, which arrived in grand style hanging from a wrought iron stand – talk about making an entrance. Both meats were succulent and richly flavoured and there was more than enough salad to go around, and in between mouthfuls I am sure I heard the words: “we should come here again”.

In spite of temptations such as the Fantasia de Chocolate and Flan Cubano, neither of us could find room for dessert and so it was our little trip down Havana way ended. But I venture it will be an hasta luego not an adios amigos to La Cubanita.

Foodie notes

Location: LA CUBANITA, Campbell Street, Liverpool

Tel: 0151 709 5335

INTERIOR: Richly coloured with red banquettes and the obligatory pictures of Che Guevara.

SERVICE: Excellent, very helpful and friendly.

BILL: £52.45.

VALUE FOR MONEY: Not the cheapest place but you get lots of food!