Unfortunately this was my worst dining experience in Puerto Rico.
I moved to Isla Verde for the last two days of my trip so I can be near the airport. At an Airbnb near Zul. I don't see many other well-rated options, so I walk over to Zul.
I arrive about 8pm on Friday night. It is almost empty. There are two people at the bar and a couple of diners scattered about.
I grab a seat at the bar. No one offers me anything for a while. Eventually I ask for a mojito.
There are three employees. I'm not sure what they were doing. A couple of them walked back and forth with the same plate of chips a few times. One of them spent a few minutes trying to open a bottle of wine (he ended up pushing the cork in). Eventually two of them disappeared and the one remained.
No drinks were made during this time, for me or anyone else. The two people at the bar waited patiently for their check (they were together) this entire time too.
I'm used to island time. I'm on island time! But, this was weird. I couldn't figure out what they were doing.
I got up and walked around, taking in the view, which is one good thing here. Nice view.
After standing alone starting at the city for a few minutes, I went back to the bar.
Same scene. Employees seem to be moving around, but doing nothing. It was so odd .
So I started being slightly passive aggressive. I turned to the other two people and said "do you know any good restaurants around here?"
I did that for a couple of minutes, with the bar tender standing right there hearing it all.
Bartender went back to the kitchen a couple of time and returned (with nothing). So I started making eye contact directly with her. Hoping she might decide to make my drink.
I planned on ordering food, but at this rate, it might be a while. Again, the whole place had maybe 2 tables of diners, me, and the two people at the bar. That's it. And none of them were getting anything at this time except one couple who finally got their champagne with the cork in it.
She then said, ok you want a... a mojito?
"Yes, please"
She made the drink, seemingly with care tbh, and served it up. She asked how it was. I said "great, can I have the check please?" (in Spanish) before tasting it because I just wanted to kinda leave at this point.
The mojito tasted like lemonade. No idea if it had alcohol in it. I looked over the menu. It was uninspired Mexican food.
So I engaged the bartender "hay restaurantes Boriquas in este barrio?" (Are there any Puerto Rican restaurants around here?)
This is the most engaged and helpful she was during my time there, to recommend a different restaurant! She even went and got her coworkers who started making suggestions for other restaurants .
Ok, I can take a hint. The check came quick.
I paid and left. The end.
One extra star for the view, and the assistance finding a restaurant that would actually feed me. read more