This is not one of Havana's more attractive paladars and would be quite difficult to find without recommendation. The dining room is straight off the street and consists of three tables. The decor is not especially remarkable--more shabby chic than anything else--and the owner's family troops through the restaurant to the living quarters at regular intervals.

While the food was also not amazingly spectacular, you could do far worse than choosing La Julia. For a start, there was a "complimentary" soup--a delicious Chinese-style soup with chicken, rice, and spring onions (my veggie partner was sorry to find the chicken--he had been enjoying the soup so far!). Since we had not ordered a soup, we mistakenly thought we were getting a freebie and so did not question it--it appeared on the bill at the end, though it was reasonably priced and, I have to say, one of the tastiest things I ate over the three weeks in Cuba!

My pork main course was also tasty, though the meat itself was perhaps a little tough. My partner chose fish and was presented with a sizeable platter of fish fillets. Rice and beans, a dressed salad (salads in Cuba rarely come dressed!), and fried plantains were all excellent.

Service was great--very friendly and polite--and despite our initial annoyance at being duped over the soup, I would not hesitate to recommend this paladar, one of Havana's cheaper paladars, which serves good, basic "comida criolla".