"A good restaurant is like a vacation; it transports you, and it becomes a lot more than just about the food." Philip Rosenthal
After
safely landing at the San Juan Airport, hailing a taxi to our hotel
in Old San Juan, and getting settled in; our first mission was to go
to a good restaurant and have a good meal. This was our first day of
vacation and we wanted to start it out right with a great meal.
When we were in Old San Juan before, we had a nice meal at Raices
Restaurant located at 315 Recinto Sur Street in Old San Juan. This
restaurant prepares food that is a taste of the island with an
elegant style. When you enter, you feel the fun atmosphere with an
old fashioned Puerto Rican flare. We figured that was a good place
to start our vacation.
Walking
up to the restaurant was an easy, short walk from the Sheraton in Old
San Juan near the cruise port downtown. When we arrived at the
restaurant, we spoke to the girls who were hostesses standing outside
the restaurant in the old fashioned red outfits, showed them our
vaccination card and ID and put our name on the waiting list. We
were told it would be about a 35 minute wait and they would call us.
So we walked around the area near the restaurant while we waited
enjoying the beauty of Old San Juan. Right when we got back to the
restaurant, Joe’s phone was ringing and it was the restaurant
saying our table was ready. Perfect timing.
The
hostess lead us into the restaurant which was humming with activity
as all the servers were busy serving. Smelling all the wonderful
food made us instantly hungry. The walls were nicely designed with
beautiful paintings on the walls depicting sugar plantation life.
There were 3d accents such as tin roof over a painted barn, barnyard
doors, and antique items on display.
The
wait staff were all dressed as the men of Puerto Rico in the 1940’s
with white shirts, black suspenders, and straw hats. The bus boys
were all sharply dressed in black. Our waiter, Angel came by and
introduced himself to us and gave us our menues. This restaurant has
many great Puerto Rican menu selections. Their specialties are
Mofongo, Kan Kan Pork Chop, a selection of Creole meals, and many
other wonderful entrees. Their water and specialty drinks are
fabulous and creatively served in a pewter cup. I ordered their Pina
Colada which was very tasty and Joe got a local beer that he enjoyed.
Joe
decided on the Kan Kan Pork Chop and I ended up ordering the meat
Creole meal. I was completely satisfied with my meal as it was
perfect. It was delicious and a very generous portion as well.
Joe’s Kan Kan Pork Chop was so large it filled his plate. He
really enjoyed the meat which had a fantastic flavor. It was so
large that he just couldn’t eat it all in one sitting. We ended up
leaving with to go boxes. The last time we ate here, we ordered the
skirt steak stuffed Mofongo with the mashed fried green plantains
which was recommended by a couple of local young ladies. They were
right. It was a hardy, delicious and flavorful meal.
Our
meal was wonderful and the service was great. Angel was very nice
and was a great server. Even though there was a wait to get in,
they did not rush us at all and we enjoyed a relaxed meal. We would
recommend this restaurant to visit when you are in Old San Juan. It
is a special place.
This
restaurant was opened in May 2002 after two years of planning and
looking for a great location. Nydia was a waitress and Chef Erick
opened this restaurant with only ten dollars in petty cash. There
were only a few tables when it was first opened but now has expanded
to seat 200 diners at the same time. The hours are Monday –
Wednesday 11 am – 8 pm. Thursday – Saturday 11 am to 10 pm and
Sunday 12 pm to 9 pm. They have expanded now to have another
restaurant in Turabo, Caguas and one soon coming to Santurce. Check
them out when you are there. You will not regret it.
Till
next time. Bye for now.
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