Laut by Jorge López Stell -- An Isla Verde gem that delivers on flavor, service and ambiance…read more From the moment we walked through the doors of Laut, I knew I was in for something special. This restaurant, tucked into the vibrant Isla Verde / Carolina area, offers an experience that balances elegance with island warmth. Laut has a modern, airy feel, with tasteful décor and lighting that complements its seaside-adjacent location. It feels refined but not pretentious -- a place where you want to linger over a good meal and good company. Great for dates as well as for group activities. The staff are warm and attentive, greeting you with genuine smiles and making you feel welcome from the start. The menu showcases a beautiful fusion of Puerto Rican and international flavors, highlighting fresh seafood, local ingredients, and bold combinations. Every dish we tried was thoughtfully plated and well balanced. * The "crudo" was bright and refreshing, with the perfect acidity to showcase the fish. * A standout was a seafood entrée I had a local fish fillet served with bog choy. * The lamb was also memorable * The drink menu is well curated: we tried a cocktail with tropical notes, and it paired beautifully with the food. Service is one of Laut's strong suits. The servers were knowledgeable, patient, and ready with recommendations. At no point did I feel rushed; instead, they guided the pacing of the meal so it felt relaxed and comfortable. Prices are consistent with an upscale dining experience in a beach-adjacent district -- not cheap, but absolutely worth it for what you get. Tips * Make a reservation, especially if you visit in peak dinner hours. * Ask the staff for daily specials -- they often have fresh fish or creative dishes not always printed on the menu. * Save room for dessert -- there's a sweet finale waiting. * Try to dine as sunset approaches -- the light adds a beautiful ambiance. All in all, Laut is a standout dining option in the Isla Verde / Carolina area.

This is San Juan's BEST fine dining restaurant! We thoroughly enjoyed our Christmas Day dinner at…read moreLaut. Every dish was not only delicious, but beautifully presented too. What really impressed us was how each dish used flavors from different cultures in such a well-executed, yet creative way-- with influences of Peruvian, Indian, Filipino, Thai, and French cuisines! My husband and I started our meal with the pecan old-fashioned and coquito, which were both outstanding. The pecan old-fashioned was flavored with a live smoked charcoal, which was not only tasty but also created a great visual effect. The coquito was so fragrant and tasted like Christmas in a cup! For appetizers, we ordered the ceviche, soft shell crab, and salad. I usually do not eat raw fish but the server insisted I try the ceviche. I am glad I did, because it was really worth it! For the mains, we each ordered a variation of the fresh caught fish. I ordered a coconut curry version, and my husband got the one with butter herb sauce. The coconut curry had an Indian spin to it-- and as an Indian girl, I was impressed that they got the spice completely on point! My husband's butter herb fish was a French-style fish, had a side of cassava done mashed-potato style. He absolutely loved it, it was delicate yet so flavorful. Well, we just had to try the dessert too! We ordered the coconut cannoli with hazelnut ice cream. The plating was so pretty, it almost looked too gorgeous to eat! But don't be fooled-- the taste was amazing. I never would have thought to pair hazelnut and coconut, but it went together so well and it was absolutely delightful! We met the chef, Jorge, who comes to every table and welcomes customers. We enjoyed hearing about his craft, and we were very thankful to have experienced such a special culinary treat over our San Juan vacation. Book a table at Laut-- you will not regret it! You can easily make a reservation through OpenTable. Also, if you have vegetarians in your party, they can definitely accommodate!

What a hidden gem of a restaurant. Worth looking for if you're interested in authentic Puerto Rican…read morecuisine. The mofongo was delicious and my Churrasco was so big I couldn't finish it. Do try a pina colada when you go. Luis and Carmen run this place.

Good food. Big portions. Carne frita(fried pork) or fired codfish we're great with plantains or…read moretostones.

This was a real treat. Everything was a hit. There's a reason they've been nominated for a James…read moreBeard twice. I highly recommend the Verde Mesa Rice. Perfect for sharing. The Pork Cheeks Stew is also a must. I ordered the tuna. It was fresh, light, perfect. We also got the Sour Dough Toast. The spread made this a stand out appetizer. Desserts were top notch. I really liked the dates cake. This is a great spot for a date. Service was excellent. They don't take reservations. It's a first come first serve deal.

Farm to table Puerto Rican style was unique, fresh, and delicious. 4.75 stars…read more Food: 5. Service: 5 Atmosphere: 4 Cost to worth it rating: 3 Opentableable: no reservations Return worthiness: yes Eve award: best scallop appetizer Highlights - Scorched scallops: thin delicate melt in your mouth slices of scallops with tiny pineapple squares and avocado. Ended up being the best dish of our entire visit to Puerto Rico. 5 stars - Verde Rice: never had anything like it. Fluffy rice filled with lots of veggies and topped with Parmesan cheese. 4.5 stars - Pork cheek stew: tender pork in a light gravy with sweet potato gnocchi and crispy pork skin for crunch. 4.5 stars - Chocolate almond cake: mousse on top and thin dense cake as a crust on the bottom. 4 stars - Alexandria: delightful waitress with stellar dish suggestions - Decor: whimsical with items in cages and cherubs with mason jars as lighting fixtures was unexpected. Midlights: - Menu was hard to navigate on the phone - Cocktails they are known for -- they were ok Lowlights: - No reservations taken so could be a long wait but got lucky on a Wednesday night in mid-July - Out of the duck I was planning to order

This open aired, ocean side restaurant was a great find! The staff were super friendly and…read moreattentive. The restaurant had a small crowd but we still made reservations. I would imagine this place would be packed in the high season. Be warned there is only one blender so it takes a while to get drinks... and I definitely recommend their frozen coconut mojito. We ordered the ceviche appetizer and that alone was worth the drive. I know we had other appetizers but I honestly cannot remember them due to the amazing mess of the ceviche. For the mains I think my steak with cilantro rice, was the best meal of the night. The rest of the table had hog fish, rice and beans, tostones, and lobster which were enjoyed by all.

All things went well. The hostess was attentive indeed as…read morewe arrived and she was able to get us through a side door and into the inside air conditioning indoor area. We do travel with a wheelchair. The server was very good and well knowledgeable on the menu. He was even photographed in the menu. We ordered a couple cocktails as well as many appetizers. We didn't order any entrees, as our family likes to try many things. My wife's favorite is ceviche and she was impressed by this dish. (Order it) We also ordered fish bites. Solid choice as the guava sauce was memorable. La arepas de coconut. Solid. The fish empanadas were great. Definitely order those. But calamari was chewy and overcooked. I'd pass on this. Cocktails were amazing. Spicy margarita is spicy!! I had a mojito which was delicious. You won't go wrong with any cocktail. Server was great. He did mention to me that we should order soon as the kitchen will get busy. We waited as we were enjoying our dinner. (We didn't have any problems) I'd go back. I'd also suggest sticking to your plan. It's your evening and don't let service control the experience. At the end of it...you control the tip = thank you.

We absolutely loved this place. Drinks we great. Food was amazing. Our server Genesis was friendly,…read moreknowledgeable and attentive to us. The restaurant was quaint, clean and the ambiance was cozy. I highly recommend this restaurant to anyone in the area. We will definitely return.

Seafood Pasta was on the super fillings side, you had no shortage of food that's for sure. The…read moreservice was great and it wasn't nearly as crowded as other restaurants in the San Juan area. The interior was nice & well kept.

We selected Mar Del Caribe from internet reviews for a Tuesday evening dinner as we were heading…read moreback to the Isla Verde area after visiting Old San Juan. My wish that night was to find a place offering fried whole snapper and it was on their menu - and I even called ahead to be sure it was available that night. So I was hyped to try their snapper version, and it didn't disappoint. The vibe of the restaurant was that of a friendly neighborhood joint, possibly a bit retro time-wise. Service was prompt and informative. We both had cocktails, and Paige said it was one of the best whisky sours she's had. With the snapper - which was HUGE - I had an order of mamposeao, a rice and bean stew that was amazing. My wife's chicken parm also got a great review from her. We parked in the small lot directly in front of the restaurant, and there was an attendant to help with parking.

I love the patio atmosphere at this cafe style restaurant... Perfect for people watching in Old…read moreTown San Juan. Also the chicken mofongo with the creamy garlic sauce... perfection

My fellow foodies, every time I come to Puerto Rico, I make it a mission to support local…read morerestaurants, and this visit to El Parrilla did not disappoint! I wasn't sure what to expect since it was recommended to me, but let me tell you... I'll definitely be back before heading home! From the moment we walked in, the ambiance was so relaxing. It's the perfect place to sit back, enjoy great food, and take in the island vibes. We ordered the Chuleta Can Can with tostones de pana, and it was absolutely delicious. We also had the filete de mero, which was perfectly cooked, incredibly tender, and packed with flavor. To top it all off, we enjoyed a coconut mojito and a passion fruit mojito--both were refreshing and the perfect pairing with our meal. I also have to give a huge shout-out to our server, Michael. He was AMAZING! So friendly, attentive, and accommodating. If you stop by, definitely ask for him--you won't regret it. One thing I love most about visiting Puerto Rico every year is discovering new local restaurants and supporting our community. The food, the hospitality, and the culture never disappoint. And for my fellow parents--they also have a kids' menu, making it a great spot for the whole family! If you're visiting Puerto Rico, be sure to support the local businesses. You just might find your new favorite restaurant like I did!

1st restaurant we tried after landing in San Juan, this place is very close to where we stay. Small…read morelocal authentic PR restaurant with great food. Ordered shrimp camerons kids loved it and fried red snapper chillo , Food came very quick.

wow wow wow the red…read moresnapper was delicious! I had the lobster which was delicious and the beans and rice was so good! The service was quick and we sat on the inside. I would definitely be back again. We had a party of 10 and people were served very quickly.

I don't leave many 5 star reviews but this spot is top notch. It doesn't look like much from the…read moreoutside, but it's a power play in the food scene. The customer service is friendly and great and the food was awesome. We did the Whole Red Snapper, the Skirt Steak, and Can Can Pork chop and washed t all down with some Coconut Margaritas. The food is delicious, all meticulously and carefully prepared and presented beautifully. This is definitely a must do when in the PR.