We're currently dining here, and from the moment my partner and I walked in, the experience has…read morebeen mixed. One of the hostesses was noticeably rude at the start, which set an uncomfortable tone. After being seated, our waiter hasn't been outright unkind, but there's a clear difference in how we're being treated compared to other guests. As a same-sex couple, it feels like we're not being received as warmly, even though he seems to be making an effort to remain professional. As a Puerto Rican, that's honestly a bit disappointing and feels out of place. That said, the food itself has been very good.

A gem. Sat outside & had a great night. Food, vibes, & service were all wonderful. Started out with…read morea complimentary soup & cod fritters (yummmy! & I don't even like fish, usually). The hot sauce on the table was nice, not too hot but a good kick, I usually do not like habanero based hot sauces but this was good! The Queso Frito was interesting in flavors & textures, delicious. El Conflicto was perfect, all the flavor of a pina colada but without the heaviness of syrups & sugar. The Pollo Borracho was super flavorful & filling, chicken cooked to perfection falling off the bone. My fiancé had the Carne Frita, it was super tender & a well balanced dish. Service was friendly & attentive. My only complaint- we were so full we couldn't even look at the dessert menu! Guess we will just have to go back.

El Refran is located right on Ashford Ave- you cannot miss it - it's a tiny little restaurant that…read morealways has a line. For that reason, I'd recommend going at an off time for lunch because it was great! They were out of a few items, but I ended up with a pork chop with guava sauce and it was so good. They were also sadly out of the tres leches cake but I popped back in later that week as they were closing and were thrilled they had some left. That may have been the best tres leches I've ever had. The drinks were also delicious! We'll definitely return next time we're in PR.

This casual restaurant is a fun dinner stop with open air dining (not so good on a hot day though)…read more We went early at 5pm and avoided crowds. The restaurant filled up before we left. We went with the waitress's recommended dishes - Mofongo Churrasco (steak) and Mamposteao Tacu Tacu with grilled shrimp. Flavors were strong and a bit on the salty side, but delicious. We enjoyed both dishes. The Mamposteao Tacu Tacu has a long fancy name but it was rice and beans topped with skirt steak. The sangria was the happy hour cocktail of the night, very refreshing.

The view, the food, the drinks, and the service were all amazing! We had the Chuleta khan khan,…read moremofongo, ropa Vieja and piña coladas. And we even had a rainbow as a bonus

My first time out of the contiguous United States and into Puerto Rico. And it happened at…read moreChristmas. I have to say, this was the best Christmas dinner I've ever had and it was at Havana Bar & Grill. Number 1 on the list of nearby restaurants given to us by the front desk at our hotel The Condado Plaza Hotel. Ambiance: Casual and cozy, but could be more formal if you want/need it to be. I was a little concerned because we had a 14 and a 10 year old with us but it wasn't a problem at all. We fit right in. Beautiful, BEAUTIFUL VIEW OF THE OCEAN from the dining room windows. They have quite the wine selection which most wine connoisseurs would appreciate. Wines are on display next to the dining room. Service: We call for a reservation about 45 minutes before we were ready to eat. We weren't sure if they were gonna be open because it was Christmas Day. But they were open and they did have a space available within the hour for a table of six, and they were happy to seat us. The host was friendly, our server was friendly, attentive, and knowledgeable. The food came out quickly and hot. The food. OMG THE FOOD!! Appetizers: Camarones Al Ajillo (Garlic Shrimp). Delish and cooked perfectly. AND Empanadillas de Carne (mini meat turnovers) especially delicious (comes with a sauce. I don't know what it was but it was great with the empanadas. The dough wrapping was light and flaky, like pie crust. Gorgeous! Entrees: The kids had Frituras de Pollo (chicken tenders) not your run-of-the-mill flash frozen and then fried, chicken pieces. This was real chicken with real breading and it was fantastic. They even took the time to elevate a kids dish. Super crispy and good seasoning. MOFONGO Churrascos (out side skirt steak) Delicious, meat cooked perfectly and FULL OF FLAVOR. Bistec de Filete Encebollado (tenderloin steak with onions) with red beans and rice. Best my wife and son ever had. Steak cook perfectly. Finally Risotto de Mariscos (risotto with seafood *shrimp, calamari & mussels) This dish was on par with the risotto dish I had a Gordon Ramsay Steak in Maryland. Perfection. That's all I need to say about that. Tremendous experience here. I would come back in a heartbeat. In fact, we did. Next day. Took some desserts to go. They don't make them in house but they said they get them from a local bakery. Good enough for me. DESSERTS: Chocolate cake and Carrot cake. We enjoyed in them our hotel room. Moist and delicious. Consistent with our first experience. Still happy customers. (Chef's kiss)

Social is connected to our hotel. The DJ was rocking early. Great music. The drinks were good. We…read moreordered the calamari as an appetizer. Great flavor. The bartender was attentive. During breakfast we sat outside. The view was amazing. There were many breakfast choices. The server was helpful in answering menu questions. The breakfast was very good every morning.

Seems like most the reviews are either great or terrible. My experience landed squarely on the…read moregreat side. I figured I should have breakfast in the beach at least once while here. There isn't a lot of options for that. I did some googling and discovered Social. I was the first customer, at 7am sharp on a Thursday and got the best table on the patio. Unbeatable views. The waves crash against the rocks below creating a beautiful and relaxing scene, audio and visual. Sea birds are their breakfast as they dive into the waves. Planes jetted past the sky. And a sailboat on the horizon finished my sunrise view. I ordered the continental breakfast. This is not your typical hotel breakfast. This was extremely fresh, artisan quality food. Fruit- absolutely fresh, ripe, and delicious. Better fruit does not exist. Croissant- warm, buttery, flaky, and a bit indulgent. I could eat 20. Coffee (Americano)- smooth, rich, flavorful Bacon- thick and delicious. I wish I had asked for crispy though. Orange juice- tasted fresh to me. Not over sweet, not sour, full of pulp, refreshing and delicious. Service was good. As always, don't expect rushed American style service here. Relax. You're overlooking one of the most beautiful scenes in the planet. Eat slow. Take pictures. Breathe the air. And stuff your face. I would come back in a heart beat.

After a week of beer, tacos, street food, beaches, forts, music, and mischief, I had one last…read moremission: a Cuban sandwich. At Ropa Vieja Grill in San Juan, Puerto Rico, they might just perfect it better than Cuba itself. The spot is clean, classy, and welcoming not your typical hole-in-the-wall and the service is top-notch, making you feel like a VIP with every bite. The sandwich itself? Pressed just right, loaded with roast pork, ham, melty cheese, and pickles a little Caribbean celebration in your hands. A must-stop for your final taste of the island flavorful, polished, and unforgettable.

Ropa Vieja Grill got the birthday shenanigans off to a great start. It's just about a block from…read morethe beach and was the perfect stop, enroute to sun, sand, and celebration. From the moment we walked in, it was a lively and fun vibe. The warmth and friendliness of the staff set the tone and instantly put us in vacation mode. I finally tried the much talked about mofongo (fried green plantains mashed with garlic, olive oil, and "chicharrónes" or pork skins). We ordered the beef, which was tender and flavorful, and more than just enough as it's quite filling. The Puerto Rican lemonade made with passion fruit was another new tickler for the tastebuds. As guests at the hotel (The Condado Palm Inn), we were lucky enough to meet Denise, during breakfast one morning. Let me just say, she ROCKS! Denise was our hostess turned unofficial tour guide, enthusiastically sharing some great ideas and recommendations on beaches, adventures, local spots and other must-see-if-you-can sights of interest.

First time in PR and we are foodies. This has to be the best food we have had so far! Absolutely…read moredelicious. Not one complaint . Service was great. We also had the Flan de coco but ate it before I could get a picture. It was delicious. We didn't have a reservation but we were able to get a table. The sitting area was great we were also provided a lil table lamp which came in handy because it was getting dark outside.

Just around the block from our hotel, we decided to try Waiter's for dinner. The service was good…read more When we first entered the restaurant, there weren't any other patrons. As it got busier, it took the waiter more time to get to us. The restaurant was very casual and comfortable. The temperature was cool inside with the air conditioning. Sadly they did not have the appetizer we had hoped to try. They made it up to us with a complementary dessert. The coconut flan was delicious. We shared a skirt steak rice and fried pork Mofongo. Both were flavorful. The servings were generous. The rice included Amarillos. If you are in the area Waiter's is it excellent option for dining.

Beautiful restaurant with outstanding, creative dishes…read more My husband and I ordered one app and two entrees. The portions were very large, and we would have been fine with just two menu items! To start, we had the roasted eggplant, lamb 'picadillo', date sofrito, 'Feliche' yogurt. Really delicious and probably best for sharing among 3-4 people as it's a bit heavy given the lamb. Nevertheless, it was really good and we finished it! For entrees, we tried the (1) rice with rabbit, sweet plantain in its leaf and the (2) breaded pork loin, mushroom cream, cherokee tomatoes from San Lorenzo, tostones. Our server was super excited when we ordered the rice with rabbit and I understand why. It was insanely flavorful. Also a massive portion haha. We really enjoyed this. The pork loin was delicious as well, especially with the mushroom cream. Plantains are one of my favorite foods, and these tostones did not disappoint. The restaurant itself is beautiful. It's a nice mix of modern decor with homey, vintage elements. There is a very large outdoor space, but I'm really glad we ate inside. Definitely recommend - especially for a group that likes to share!

What a perfect dining experience. The staff genuinely seem thrilled to work there. They made us…read morefeel so welcome. They were also so excited to recommend dishes from their expansive menu! Beautiful layout with roomy indoor seating arrangements and a lovely outdoor seating space. Bathrooms were pristine with a changing table Food: Corn fritters with cod & heirloom tomatoes - light and delicious, packed with layers of flavor. Nice blend of textures from crispy to the savory tender fish and the tomato crisp Chicken thigh chicharrones - wow. So good. Tender and flavorful Prawns - plump and tasty. Soaked in a wonderful stew I would say 3-4 dishes is good for 2 people with a healthy appetite Would 100% like to come back the next time we are in Puerto Rico

Look, were we at an alcapurria spot ordering pastelillos? Yes. Do we regret it? Absolutely not…read more We got one each of vegetariano, cebolla y queso, pollo, and guayaba con queso. The vegetariano was mid, but the other three? No complaints. But honestly, the food is only part of the story here. The vibe is everything. Salsa playing, high energy, warm service. We rolled in late and hungry, looking for sweet refuge from La Placita crowds, and they welcomed us like we belonged there. The music started out mixed, but at some point it shifted to Contra La Corriente front to back. We were enjoying our pastelillos, singing along to No Me Conoces, minding our own business when... el apagón. Not the whole Placita, just a couple spots including this one. The staff didn't miss a beat. Flashlights came out, mood lighting appeared, and nobody rushed us. We finished our food. We paid. We left happy. 5 stars because some experiences are bigger than the sum of their parts. This was one of them.

This is not a polished, Instagram-perfect restaurant and that's exactly the point. That's why I…read morelove it so much. Tucked inside La Placita de Santurce, its a small, casual, almost hidden spot that's usually packed with locals. Think plastic chairs, outdoor tables, music playing and a constant flow of people coming in for a quick bite or drink. Feels more like a neighborhood hangout than a restaurant. I've been coming here for years and this is what I've learned, take it from a local. For a quick bite, alcapurrias are a MUST -- especially beef or crab. Also the "pastelillos" are amazing-- corn beef, chorizo, morcilla... Everything freshly made to order. Now, if you want to sit down and enjoy an authentic Puerto Rican meal, here are some of my favorites: chuletas fritas, chicharrones de pollo, bistec encebollado and carne frita-- of course with a side of rice and beans or tostones for the win. Bottom line: you come here for flavor and authenticity, not comfort. Enjoy

The service is EXCELLENT!!! The food matches! The French toast will leave wanting more, but will…read morefill you up! And the taste is just sooo good! Our servers were so nice (Mie-Ling, Mechelle & Kiara)!!! Always treat you Servers with respect and kindness!! We even took a pic with them! The ocean view was amazing!!!

Service was a bit slow but the environs are amazing with a fantastic view of the oceam. I ordered…read morethe arugula salad with the Spanish octopus and was quite pleased. Staff was very friendly. Would definitely return. Pricy but consider the area and environment.

I made a reservation for my Sister's birthday. Reservations…read moreare encouraged. The ambiance is exceptional, servers are friendly. We had their empanadas as appetizers and as always it was a hit. I tried the mixed seafood Mofongo and it did not disappoint. If you like plantain, you will love this. It is a popular Puerto Rican dish. My sister had their steak and mashed potatoes. She devoured it. We also tried their Mojito: 10/10. Recommended. Overall I really enjoyed the food and birthday dinner was a success

My husband and I are in San Juan on our honeymoon and we're interested in good places to eat. We…read morestumbled upon this hidden little gem! It's a super quaint place. They were pretty busy on a Thursday night and only two servers were staffed but they did their best with serving us. It can be a bit loud in there but again it was busy and it's a small place. My husband and I really enjoyed our food. It is on the pricey side but we were extremely satisfied with our meals! We recommend!