Habana Café

We are so SoHo hos.  After realizing last week that the rest of the area isn't as skanky as Houston Street itself and is, in fact, quite charming, we're smitten.  So we decided to return for brunch this week. (Another draw was that I knew that 30 Rock was filming in the area; and where the Fey goes, we soon shall follow.)  On our co-worker Fernando's recommendation, we went to Habana Café (17 Prince St.).  It's a small space that fills up fast, but we got their early enough on a weekday that we were seated right away.  (Should I be British here and say "straightaway"?)  The tropical decor is lively, the wait staff is friendly, and the coffee gets the job done... though some sugar packets would not have been turned away.  Just like we did at our brunch last week, Jana got eggs, and I got pancakes.  The buttermilk pancakes (served with strawberries, bananas, pineapple, and melon) were fine; and I enjoyed the Vermont maple syrup.  But Jana's huevos con chorizo was the standout dish.  Savory and sneakily spicy, it was a helluva "good morning."  I kinda hate the word "zesty", but it does, in this case, seem apt: the dish was zesty.  And I'm a sucker for anything served with black beans.  Never mind the fact that Jana spilled some black beans on the floor while posing with her plate for my camera.  (We're sorry, Habana wait staff.)  And best of all, the grub was cheap.  Cheaper than Houston Street is ugly.  Suffice it to say: Habana Café made a mark on us like Jana's beans made a mark on the floor.