La Fábrica Central Arrives in Cambridge’s Central Square

La Fábrica Central is now open at 450 Massachusetts Ave. in Cambridge’s Central Square, formerly home to Monroe, a restaurant and nightclub that replaced Moksa and Naga just over a year ago. (Monroe was under the same ownership as Moksa and Naga.) Within that short span, the venue dealt with a number of violent occurrences outside of the club, leading to trouble with the licensing commission. La Fábrica Central is going for more of a family-friendly vibe, per Wicked Local Cambridge.

As previously reported, Hector and Nivia Pina are behind La Fábrica Central, as well as Vejigantes in the South End, Merengue in Roxbury, and the recently opened Doña Habana in Newmarket Square. Former Cambridge vice mayor Dennis Benzan is also involved, according to Wicked Local. The new venue follows in the footsteps of its 450 Mass. Ave. predecessors with a bar, lounge, and dining room in the front part of the space and a function room with a stage and bar in the back. There’s live music with a focus on Latin jazz.

La Fábrica Central features food from Puerto Rico, Cuba, and Jamaica and has a ceviche bar, reports Wicked Local. Chef Giovanna Huyke is a cookbook author, television personality, and former executive chef of the now-shuttered Mio Restaurant in DC.

La Fábrica Central is open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

• La Fábrica Central [FB]
• Shuttered MONROE Club to Be Taken Over by Spanish-Caribbean Restaurant [WLC]
• Doña Habana Owners Could Take Over Monroe in Cambridge [EBOS]