Restaurateur Hector Piña made several trips to Havana in preparation for opening his Cuban-focused Doña Habana restaurant and lounge in Newmarket Square this September, speaking with chefs and locals to ensure the authenticity of flavors. The result is a menu of seafood and meat plates and sandwiches, plus la caleta, a crowd-pleasing appetizer that features four fried plantain cups filled with shredded beef in a tomato-based Creole sauce, fried shredded beef seasoned with lime, ground beef topped with roasted veggies, and shrimp cooked in garlic and olive oil. Thirsty? Sip your way through the restaurant’s 53 flavors of mojitos.

La caleta, $22 at Doña Habana, 811 Mass. Ave., Boston (617-708-0796) donahabanarestaurant.com