Christmas dinner at 1919. Our service tended by Alejandro, Agustin, Joshua was flawless. Awesome energy, service and food. No loud music, nice ambiance. Highly recommended. read more

1919 Is not cheap, which I'm totally okay with. The food was certainly top quality and the location is unique and vibrant. Upon arriving we were immediately seated and the waiters immediately came to introduce themselves. A few red flags surged right away. We opted out from the wine pairing and went for cocktails instead, however, we were only given one menu on an iPad my wife and I had to share? Odd. All tables were brought a sort of bench or hook where ladies could place her purse and valuables as soon as a guest arrived, not us, we had to stand and request one. Our drinks appeared and the waiter was not to be seen again around our table for the next hour or so. This is an exquisite multi-course meal (4 in our seating), however, they time it for 2 and a half hours. Meaning you must wait 30 minutes for each dish which was incredibly annoying. Halfway through the night, we were caught waving at waiters for another drink as our glasses were bone dry and they were nowhere to be seen near us. From this point on the night was very disappointing and upsetting. I am Hispanic, born and raised in Brooklyn NY(Puerto Rican parents), my wife, however, is very Puertorican. We got the sense we were dubbed as locals as every single soul dining next to us was of white/American descendants. You could see the waiters chatting up and constantly checking on all the tables around us, walking past us as if we were never even there. This situation was incredibly upsetting and will sadly be what I remember this restaurant for. We have been to multiple "Michelin star" awarded restaurants in NY and around the world and sadly, the one right at "home" is the only one so far we have felt discriminated against and plan to never return. How was the food you ask? 6/8 Dishes were horrible. How do you over salt a NY Strip? The quality of the piece was notable but the cooking and prepping were horrendous. I couldn't eat it because of how salty it was! My wife had Pork rigatoni which was essentially a soup of grease. The dessert was delicious however. I don't blame the waiters for seeing dollar signs when wealthy tourists walk through the door. But on a $500 dinner tab, you would expect some form of respect and much higher quality service. 1919, get your ducks in a row. My last name does not reflect my worth. read more

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From the moment I arrived I was enamored with the ambiance and hospitality. Customer service was well beyond expectation. I ordered a mojito but did not drink it as it wasn't very sweet to me. The waiter came over with a new one and stated "I noticed you were not drinking your mojito so I took the liberty of having the bartender prepare another one for you". Was perfect. The sea bass was delicious. All the food, presentation and service were amazing and worth the cost. This was in my drafts for a long time. Not sure if the restaurant is still open but the experience was nice. read more

1919 is probably the best restaurant in Puerto Rico. Not only is it farm to table, guaranteeing the freshest produce and meats but they also have the best service on the island. I always go for the full course meal as it's yummy and worth every penny. Will definitely be back! read more

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Food was great but it is, in my opinion, overpriced. For $89 you choose 4 courses for your tasting menu. The portions were not consistent from dish to dish. Some items were bite sized while others of the same course was big. But otherwise, the food was great and I loved the atmosphere. It's located inside the Vanderbilt so naturally it felt exclusive. read more

1919 Restaurant - First course - seared tuna - New American Near Me - San Juan, Puerto Rico

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First a secret. The five course prix fix looks great but what looks MORE GREAT, the entire menu can be ordered a la carte. The fish are all $42 per, and we tried the swordfish and the branzino. The branzino was moist, crispy skin, good broth. Great job. The swordfish was hearty, thicker base. The homemade ciabatta is crispy and fresh. We ordered as an appetizer the otherwise-for-dessert cheese plate. Fresh jam was terrific. Basic selection but good. If you're gonna do a la carte, strongly encourage you to ask for Raúl. There is *not* a separate a la carte menu -- prices are all verbally given. Raul was aces, and as a parting touch: Plus Raúl personally handed us a loaf of baked banana bread at the restaurant entrance, as we walked out. Nice job all around guys. Thank you read more

This was one of the most enjoyable dining experiences we've had in a long time. The staff, led by Carlos, were all attentive but not overbearing - just how we like it. The ambiance was high class (as you would expect from a Vanderbilt property), comfortable, quiet and included an awesome view of the Atlantic - just a few yards away. I've left the best for last. The food was absolutely exquisite. Each course was perfectly prepared and presented. I wish I could find the words to describe how delicious and how much we enjoyed the entire meal. Highly, highly recommend! read more

What a disappointment. We had a 7:30 PM reservation for dinner knowing that we had an early morning departure the next day. It's a set four-course menu for $125 per-person. I had a salad for a first course that was essentially lettuce and dressing. For $125! By the time our second course came, it was nearly 9:00 PM. My rigatoni with seafood was so salty that I could hardly eat it. And I love salt! And meanwhile, we were watching other large tables getting their second and third courses and many bottles of wine. After 9:00 PM, I asked a matire' d when we could expect our next course. He became indigent and kept saying, "Respect us" before he stormed off to the kitchen. Eventually, a manager came to our table and asked what the problem was. I explained to him that we had been waiting a long time for our food and the previous course wasn't very good. I said ,"We want to pay for what we've eaten up until this point, but want to leave and go to bed." The manager comp'd our entire dinner (including the wine), which is not what we wanted. It was not what we expected food-wise but we wanted to pay for what we ate. You're so much better off going down the street to Jose Enrique. read more

2 words: Classy, Sophistication. I am from up North, the City were we never sleep. This restaurant is inside the Vanderbilt Hotel, a top notch luxurious hotel off the water with 3 remarkable restaurants. The service is impeccable and you will be treated like royalty. The deco is warm. inviiting atmosphere with a huge open area, softly lit with seashell chandeliers and low classical jazz playing in the background. You and your loved ones can have a romantic conversation without any interruptions from any distractions. The food was phenomenal. Please come with a sophisticated palette and wear a suit or dress to impress. Afterwards enjoy a drink in the lounge area listening to the pianist. read more

1919 Restaurant - Prime beef tenderloin - New American Near Me - San Juan, Puerto Rico

An unforgettable experience! We were excited to have an early seating so we could admire the amazing view of the ocean while experiencing our first glass of champagne. This restaurant is the epitome of fine dining. The entire service was flawless from start to finish. Yuyi was wonderful the entire evening at describing the alcohol parings while also highlighting the notes that we could expect with the dishes we had ordered. Our main server was so kind and welcoming when we reviewed the menu. They knew immediately that I had a gluten intolerance and were so accommodating when I ordered. The portions of all the dishes were the perfect amount and we left the meal floating on cloud nine and couldn't have asked for anything more. read more

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Nothing about my experience - service, quality of food, unbelievably high price, etc.-- matched what you pay for this place. Now, it could've been due to it being my first - and only- time here and was an off night. Went for the Thanksgiving day dinner. Paid Michelin rated restaurant prices- maybe more- and it did not deliver, at all. Plating presentation was good however the food was meh at best. Normally I wouldn't be so disappointed and harsh but when you claim to be amazing then you better deliver when charging these prices. read more

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The food is excellent and the service outstanding. Classy yet friendly and most professional.

March 2 My Date & I was so disappointed in the tasting menu food was over salted, tasted like wedding food. Food came out looking awesome but tasted like ass..what a waste of 500 dollars..safe your money !!! Overrated !!!!! read more

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5 star ambiance coupled with great food and service is a winning combination. Yes, it is expensive, but overall worth it for the complete experience. read more

2 stars only for the service. My bf booked this place for us and we were so excited to have a course dining experience. Food was not fresh, I had a hair in my risotto, the fish in the crudo was not fresh, steak tough and flavorless, etc. we're all for spending money for a good meal, but to leave feeling disappointed after a $500 dinner is very frustrating. Look elsewhere. read more

I love this place. I went for my birthday because STK had Covid restrictions. But I'm happy we went here it was wonderful. The excellent service was provided by Jonoline. She was the only one at the bar. She was very kind and sweet. She made my night very special. She was also knowledgeable about the menu. We had the beets salad, arugula salad, mussels, king salmon and the rib eye. Everything was beautifully made and equally delicious. Fine dining at it best. read more

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I took my wife out for our honeymoon and spent $515 for a 3 hour dinner where 4/6 dishes weren't good. 3 stars for the friendly and mostly tentative staff. Otherwise 1 star for the quality of food and efficiency -- 3 hours is way too long. My wife's steak had the taste of charcoal for example. Shame on the Vanderbilt for making this place out to be a Michelin star restaurant. read more

Absolutely beautiful atmosphere and service is A1 but the food is absolute garbage! Paid 145$ for a tasteless burnt steak. I would recommend having a drink at the bar but DO NOT order food it's terrible at best. read more

As someone who has dined at 1919 every year since they opened, it breaks my heart to have to give a negative review. We are a group of 4 friends who have been traveling together to San Juan for over 30 years. We stay at the Condado Vanderbilt and one of the highlights of our trip is our dinner at 1919. In the past we have enjoyed the prix fixe menu. As we are now a little older we just can't eat that much food anymore and last year ordered ala carte ( each of us had an appetizer, main and dessert). This year we were told that the only option was to order the full menu. Despite telling the manager that we has been long time customers and had ordered ala carte last year, we were told that we would need to be moved to the bar area but assured the food was the same. In the bar area there were approximately 6 tables for meals and at least 6 tables for cocktails and only one poor waitress doing her best to handle the overwhelming load. She was a hard worker and in no way responsible for our negative experience ( the two stars are for her efforts). After placing our order we sat for at least 30 minutes before asking for some bread ( in the main dining room we would have received bread/ butter as well as an amuse-Boucher). We were then told there was no lobster available for the guest who had ordered the lobster salad appetizer ( really? at 7pm on a Friday night?!). When the appetizers arrived they brought risotto instead of rigatoni. They quickly brought out a rigatoni that was so undercooked it was barely edible. We didn't say anything as we figured they were in a hurry because of the initial mistake. Main course arrived and the duck breast was cold. Obviously had sat so long that it had cooled to the point we felt we had to send it back. They warmed it but, you guessed it, now overcooked. They ended up comping the cost of the rigatoni and half the duck. It wasn't even about the money to us...it was just so sad to leave a place where we had 10+ years of great memories with a now bad experience. Next year we will go elsewhere. read more

Pretentious management. We made reservations 4 days in advance. Received multiple confirmations of our reservation. Absolutely nothing about a dress code. We arrive and am I in dressy shorts, nice shoes and button down. Wife is dressed to the nines. Apparently my pants are an issue. We see a bum sitting in a t-shirt and sweat pants. Apparently that was ok. The manager comes over with a smug smile and tells us we are not welcome. Bye! We later come to find out find the menu is available in the hotel lounge where we proceed to get great service and eat off the restaurant menu. Manager didn't bother to tell us that... Food was great except the severely overpriced crudo appetizer clocking in at $39 for a half bite of sashimi. Don't get that one. Everything else is exceptional: tomato salad, truffle gnocchi, swordfish, dorado and chocolate cake. But that smug manager nearly ruined the whole night...I don't think I have ever met a more pretentious person in the food service world. read more

My wife and I went to 1919 as apart of our nice night out in Sam Juan but were utterly disappointed in our experience. I usually make exceptions for when the food is subpar but service is good, or vise versa. However our experience at 1919 was quite poor both on service and food side. After being seated we were quickly acquainted with the sommelier, who I will say, got us a wonderful bottle of wine that we could not get enough of. But that was about it....we never had a server come with even water or to explain the menu until we flagged a random waiter down. Apparently our assigned waiter totally forgot about us or didn't know we were there? A new one was assigned to us and was well, average. Stumbled through explaining the menu and would occasionally disappear. The food that followed was overly salty or just more on the bland side. No real representation of Puerto Rican flavors and cuisine. Nothing that was unique or exciting. Just very boring contemporary food. There's a lot of potential here from both the kitchen and wait staff to really make this a wonderful experience. One focused on guest experience and dishes that pull from the beautiful diversity and history of Puerto Rican food. Could have been a bad day, miscommunication and staff shortages. But for the type of high end establishment 1919 tries to be, missteps are almost not allowed. Try Vianda in San Juan, half the price with much better food and a wholesome experience. read more

The ambiance was awesome. The staff were professional, friendly and extremely accommodating. They made us feel right at home. The food was excellent. The prix fixe menu worked out perfectly for us. Everything was seasoned and cooked to perfection. The drinks were awesome. Definitely one the best dining experiences I've had. Highly recommended and a must go when in San Juan! read more

Highly expensive for a mediocre experience! We went for a fine-dining experience. Ambience is excellent and the service is good. Food quality is mediocre in taste, but the presentation was nice. This is a four-course dinner ($169 per adult). Two of the courses are made of a really tiny appetizer and a medium-sized dessert at the end. The other two courses are okay in size. We were still hungry after the dinner. For such a mediocre experience, it was highly expensive: $790 for two adults and two kids (kids got a small steak and French fries for $69 each, since there was nothing else for the kids). read more

Food was very good. If you don't mind the minimum 2hr dinner, 10-15mins between each course, then you will enjoy being pampered here. Staff was great read more

1919 truly offered a 10 out of 10 experience, staff was very attentive and hospitable, our server William was very helpful and made us feel very welcomed. the food was incredible, and the service was above and beyond. I would highly recommend to anyone looking for an out of this world experience! read more

Extremely Disappointing - Mediocre and Overpriced Unfortunately the tone for the evening was set when the hostess selected a table for my wife and I that placed us totally outside the perimeter of the dining room. While there several empty tables within the interior, for whatever reason, we were given a table that made us feel like we were kids being punished and made to go stand in the corner. As an African-American male this experience errily reminded of being made to sit in the back of the bus. After complaining about the seating we were moved to a more suitable table with the rest of the dining crowd. Overall the food experience was mediocre at best. The 1st course was an outrageously salty salad that that would be a diabetic's nightmare. The 2nd course tasted okay, but unfortunately it was not the selection we ordered. The 3rd course was actually very good (finally something positive). The 4th course (dessert) was presented beautifully, however the taste was exceeding boring. The costs were totally out of line. $70 per glass for a non-vintage Caymus cab??? The mandatory 20% gratuity was like adding insult to injury considering the totally underwhelming dining experience. After the mandatory gratuity and other sordid fees, the $145 prix fixe is more like $225 per person. The next time we're in San Juan we will go back to Marmalade where an upscale dining experience is truly upscale. read more

5 stars!!! One of the most memorable dinners I've ever had. First the chef send over complimentary coconut and cucumber amuse Bouche. It was an unbelievable mix of perfectly complimenting tastes and a delicious smell that I'd love to bottle and take with me. There was a tasting menu where you can choose your options. Among the most memorable was the tuna caviar and Barbara. The tuna was succulent, soft and perfectly seasoned. I've ordered barata at so many restaurants and it's always like bread, you like it, it's good but not memorable. This barata was insane. It had hazelnuts, pomegranate, and crunchy chia seeds. I can't explain just how phenomenal it was. I had brussel sprouts that i didn't realize weren't mine but IM SO GLAD I THOUGHT THEY WERE. They are delicious! My main was a fatty yellowtail tuna steak that I'll remember. Other 5 star parts of this experience- the wait staff is SO friendly and not overbearing or fishing for tips. (Gratuity is included but we loved it so much we tipped more). The restaurant is beautiful with nice lighting. They bring you a little stool to put your purse so you don't need it resting near your seat. After the desserts they brought out 4 complimentary cookies and merengues and as we left they sent us home with a small package of banana bread for home. I can't say enough about this place. I'd come back again and order different things because it will be a whole different experience. I can't wait to come back. Thank you everyone at 1919, you made our night perfect read more

1919 Restaurant - Complimentary desserts - New American Near Me - San Juan, Puerto Rico

$40 for half a piece of cauliflower. This pretty much summarizes my experience at this restaurant. The food was good but not amazing. The prices were crazy. They charged $15 for a side of 2oz of macaroni for a 2 year old. We spent over $175 for a meal which was fine but nothing special and took over 90m to serve. We left hungry. If they would lower the prices and speed up the service they would have made a lot more money from us as we would have come back every day of our vacation. read more

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I experienced the worst service by Agustin. I asked a couple questions about the wine and if I could taste one. He said I could only taste one because the other was not available for tasting which I understand. Then I said what would happen if I didn't like it and he responded that if you don't like the product it's because of your taste not because the product is bad. He then said that because they are closed until Tuesday they wouldn't be able to resell it. I've been to many Michelin Star restaurants and I was shocked by his response. After his rude answer I decided to leave. I do not recommend this place if you are on vacation. read more

I dined here on Saturday evening. I don't know which was better, the food or the hospitality. Everyone took such great care of our table. They well versed in their knowledge of each plate and cocktail and sent us each home with our own complimentary banana bread loaf (best I've ever had). I wish this was a place I could visit more often. I was blown away by their kindness and efforts they put into creating an experience to remember. Highly recommend for nice occasions! Thank you again! read more

Extremely disappointed in this experience. We were an easy going party of six here to celebrate a friends birthday. We did the 4 course meal. The food was fine (although it gave me and at least another indigestion, which I personally rarely get) but the amount of time between courses was ridiculous and unacceptable. It was an hour plus wait between courses so our meal took over 4 hours. Luckily we all enjoyed each others company but this amount of time really took away from the experience. They seemed to have plenty of front house staff so I can only presume kitchen issues. Regardless, I would expect much much more for the price point. In my opinion the food and service doesn't match the price. So many better and authentic restaurants in San Juan to choose from. I would suggest you choose any of them other than 1919. read more

1919 is a VERY ambitious restaurant, anchoring a VERY ambitious new hotel. Opulence drips from every corner, from the tuxedo-clad army of servers to the chandeliers in the bathrooms to the cigar lounge adjacent to the lobby bar. No expense was spared. And the food? It swings for the fences and mostly succeeds. Foodies beware: There are those restaurants where the flavors are novel or intense, and you deconstruct each dish hoping to learn along the way. Then there are restaurants like this, where you say "what am I eating that tastes so unique?"; but the question is rhetorical because the menu descriptions are merely clues as to what might appear from the kitchen, and there's no hope of figuring it out or replicating it at home. Case in point: a starter consisting of a large fennel bulb, cooked slowly via sous-vide, roasted, and served over delicate grains and parmesan. Or a chicken soup that was a silken revelation, flavored with truffles and chestnuts and enriched not with cream or butter but with a foie gras royale. Are you kidding me? Expect everything to be that interesting, though with such unique preparations, don't be surprised if you don't love everything. For me, the crab salad tasted so much of lemongrass and sour apples that it masked the sweetness of the main ingredient, and campari sorbet was more bitter than sweet. Breads were surprisingly pedestrian. The $70 prix fixe tasting menu is a relative deal, giving you a choice of starter, 2nd course, entree and dessert, though several main course selections come with surcharges. We also received a lovely amuse bouche of puréed avocado and cucumber, and a "pre-dessert" of panna cotta with granola that was heavenly. The drinks from the bar are gorgeous and potent. Don't expect to taste much sugar in your mojito. In keeping with the ambitions of the place, the wine list is formidable and chock full of very expensive ($1000+) selections, though many are in the $50-$75 range. I asked for a recommendation of something light and inexpensive to go with our seafood selections, and was pushed aggressively to a $90 bottle -- not appreciated. Service was formal but friendly -- at least from our primary waiter Luis, whose enthusiasm for the food really shined through. We did wish there had been more of a break between courses, but we asked them to slow down and they did. So yes, 5 Stars for sure. I still think Marmalade is the place to beat in San Juan in terms of the total experience, but this is a different kind of place -- a serious special occasion or expense account restaurant -- one where attention must be paid to what's on the plate. Don't come with kids. Don't wear shorts. Do check it out before December 2014 when the Vanderbilt Hotel opens. Something tells me tables will be a lot harder to come by after that. read more

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Food is fine, but expensive. I told the wait staff I'm vegetarian but they served me a roll that for some reason had a hidden layer of meat. Disgusted to ingest dead animal and surprised by the lack of care by staff. Never again read more

We came to 1919 to celebrate a birthday and it was the most delightful experience! The service was exceptional, thanks to William and Joshua, and the food was memorable. The four course menu was perfect and we enjoyed the crudo, truffle gnocchi, duck, prime steak and brioche pudding, amongst others. If you want an amazing dining experience with impeccable service, go to 1919! read more

I just audibly sighed when I set out to write this review. I can't actually judge the restaurant on food quality, taste, plating or value, and I can't rate the staff on service -- because I didn't eat a meal here. This is a review about truthfulness, expectation setting and integrity. We reserved a table for a Friday night dinner after seeing what looked like a marvelous 4-course pre fixed menu on the restaurant's website (I'm including the screen shots for context). We arrived and were seated at a table that faced a large column obstructing the water view so we asked to move. At the second table (still without a view despite a nearly empty dining room), we were greeted by a wine pairing tasting menu for $249 and which had none of the dishes we came for. It also bears mentioning my dining partner doesn't drink so this was a non-starter. In addition the menu was beef, beef, lamb and beef -- not balanced or nuanced as a tasting menu and not what we were looking for so we asked if there was another menu. Our waiter downplayed the menu saying it was limited. Turns out it was super limited! It had a tuna or pork first course and a tuna or pork second course. Oh, and there were upcharges on some options despite the $135 price tag. I don't eat pork and neither of us wanted tuna. So we decided not to stay and instead enjoyed King prawns, grilled octopus and Caribbean lobster tails at a cute place nearby. Didn't save all that much money and the place wasn't as grand as 1919 inside, but we had no buyers' remorse. read more

1919 Restaurant - Online menu that got me so excited. - New American Near Me - San Juan, Puerto Rico

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So we just got out of the restaurant and I'm sitting in my room at the hotel, so this is fresh on my mind. The one adjectives I could think of to describe the experience was "beautiful". In terms of location, it is sitting right inside the Condado Vanderbilt Hotel, which we are staying at, so very convenient. The decor of the restaurant was up to par with those of a five-star restaurant. The service on the staff were impeccable, friendly, deserving of five stars as well. Now let's get to the meat of a review (pun intended). I had the tuna Crudo with caviar and octopus with local beans for the first part of a price fix menu. Each portion of the plate had its own distinct flavors. I could uniquely taste the tuna, some lemon flavors, the beans, and the octopus individually. Together they created a complimentary pallet. The second course what's a scallop course with lobster juis and something else buttery on the bottom but I can't remember what it was. I thought the scallop was over salted, but overall complemented well by the buttery flavors of the sauces around it. My third course was duck. This course was a little bit disappointing for my palate. The saltiness overwhelmed the other flavor profiles on the duck, but there were definitely other flavors involved. It was sitting on a bed of thin pasta like rice vermicelli and probably has a soy sauce based sauce so it kind of tastes like Duck sitting over lo mein (mei fun to be more specific). It doesn't mean I didn't enjoy this. Especially with the wine pairing with a Rioja that was very dry and oakey. That said, my wife ordered the halibut. I enjoyed a few bites of hers more. It was halibut sitting in a sauce that's take this very much like a very well-made fish chowder, with mussels and shrimp. It actually was surprisingly different, that I am going to take some of the chefs ideas for my home cooking. That was a well-executed, and worthwhile dish. For dessert, we both ordered a chocolate textures. It was paired with a 1997 Port. There was not surprising but up to par with some of the best French restaurants I have been in. The individual flavors were intense and specific, and overall pleasing. This, overall, was a great dinner. I was not super surprised or impressed with their creativity ( and that may just be a comment on my own snobberiness with food). However the execution was extremely precise, and the presentations service was beautiful. read more

This place was awesome. It's fancy but very relaxed. We stopped in for my birthday dinner and was treated exceptionally well by all the staff. Food and drinks, all good! Great way to bring in my 27th. We went back in after leaving because we forgot our car keys and the host gave us a complimentary desert. A1 service. Will definitely be back. read more

1919 Restaurant - New American Near Me - San Juan, Puerto Rico

The food was impressive. The flavor combinations of every meal paired with the different textures of smooth, crunchy, and firm just leave you wondering how did they create this? True artists in the kitchen. Pair the food with the superb service of Emanuel, José Carlos, and Angel and you have a night of smiles, laughter, flattery, and memories to last a lifetime. Let's not forget the hotel the restaurant is in... the Condado Vanderbilt is exquisite. The ambiance of the hotel and restaurant compliment one-another perfectly just like the food and top-notch service. I definitely recommend 1919 for a night you will never forget and a meal you will savor for a lifetime. read more

All I can say is WOW ! From the most incredible food to the exceptional service ! WOW Incredible experience ! Highly recommend !

My wife and I went to 1919 for my birthday dinner. The service, food and ambiance are in close competition for my favorite part of the night. The restaurant is overlooking the water with beautiful decor. The service is top notch with unrelenting professionalism and attentiveness. My entire meal was both beautiful and delicious! I would highly recommend 1919 for fine dining. read more

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