My husband and I came in to have a drink at the bar. We wanted to do a "bar crawl" starting at one end and finishing at Trade Winds (excellent by the way). However, we came in and sat down and didn't leave for several hours! As soon as I saw the menu and met our bartender, I knew this was the place for us! A foodie's paradise! The owner, Kate, was our bartender and she had so many amazing stories to tell. The food was out of this world- especially for Puerto Rico! Fresh, delicious and creative. I ordered the charcuterie with 3 different types of meat and the arugula salad (it's hard to find any decent salad in PR in my opinion). My husband ordered the mofongo which he claims was the best he had the whole time we were in PR. We love visiting PR but the food hasn't always been the best part of the experience for us. HOWEVER, El Quenepo changes all of that! Yes it is pricey but for what you're getting it's worth it. PR has to import most of their produce but this restaurant grows most of their own ingredients.You must go here! read more

Highly recommended. Ate here twice on my trip. When I come back, this will be one of my top choices to eat at: - The food is solid (Ceviche exceptional & has an original twist.Gnocchi is creative. Shark was good but not really my thing. Great flavors and presentation, but learned I'm not a shark person. I had a couple of other things I liked that I can't remember). - El Quenepo is in Esperanza which is really the only place on the island that you can walk down a street that has some bar and restaurant options - The atmosphere is great except for the random bass that rolls by - The only negative is that the specials take a solid 5-7 minutes. I've actually never encountered anything like it. Both nights we went it seemed like there were 8 specials and each required an immaculate amount of detail. Be prepared and listen closely because there are some gems in the specials. read more

Spent some time in Vieques over Memorial Day weekend and had dinner here our first night. El Quenepo was one of the restaurants listed on the W's guide of things-to-do provided to us upon check-in. After a look at Yelp reviews, we were on our way. We walked in without a reservation and luckily there was no wait for a table of two. The restaurant has an open-air setting, as do most restaurants on that block. There was a bit of a wait for our food, but I'm attributing that to island time. For starters, we went with the mozzarella and prosciutto wrapped in romaine lettuce and served with crostini. It didn't do much for me and probably not something I'd get again. For dinner, I had the filet mignon served with grilled asparagus, duck fat potatoes, and onion rings. The filet was cooked as requested (medium) and I really liked all the sides that came with it. Although this was something I could easily order at any restaurant back home, it was very good and I was happy with my choice. My boyfriend had the seafood mofongo on special and said it was good yet a little on the dry side compared to mofongo he's had elsewhere. Overall, we had a good experience here.. but there are a few other restaurants on the island I'd like to check out before making my way back here. read more

The owner actually reached out and was so sweet and gracious. I know stuff happens, abs everyone has off days. Sad I didn't get to dine in, but like I said...take out food was delicious. Take my review with a grain of salt because if I was just judging by the food we actually ate & the care the owner gave to our experience...this place is definitely a 5 star place and worth a try. read more

This spot has the best ambiance on the island (tied with Noche). We stopped in twice - once for dinner and once for desert. For dinner, we had the crab soup, seafood ceviche and a few other dishes that I can't recall. For desert, we had goat cheese, lemon cheesecake. The food was solid (the desert was fabulous!) but for the price I Next Course is still my favorite. I recommend this spot as a place to have an upscale meal in Esperanza or as quiet place to share desert. read more

We were 4 people and ordered 3 meals. It was Lobster and Mushroom Papardelli. Cook chef is the best in the island! Everything was absolutely delicious! It's worth!!!! read more

El Quenepo - Lobster - Caribbean Near Me - Vieques, Puerto Rico

Really enjoyed this place. Great ambience (especially given the restaurants within walking distance). Loved the selection of items on the menu. Definitely enjoyed the creativity that went into creating each dish. The Nappa wrapped grouper was exceptional and the ceviche was quite good as well. Ordered the Chocolate walnut gelato topped with toasted marshmallow and it was the perfect ending to a delicious meal. I'd give 5 stars if the waitress hadn't tried too hard to be our friend in the beginning and then copped a major attitude during the last half hour of our meal. Overall, it was great and you should definitely check it out but make a reservation because they fill up quickly! read more

El Quenepo - Clockwise from left: Swordfish, Nappa wrapped grouper, chocolate walnut gelato w/ toasted marshmallow, vanilla bean creme brûlée - Caribbean Near Me - Vieques, Puerto Rico

Great food which is inspired by locally sourced ingredients. I had the lobster and shrimp covered mofongo which was good, not great. (Maybe it is great, and I just realized on this trip that I am just not a fan of mofongo.) By far the best thing ordered at our table was a stew of sorts which included octopus, muscles and some other seafood, but the broth was the star of the dish and left me continually stealing bites from my wife's plate. While on the island we also ate at Bili and Next Course, all of which are in the same price point, but none of which get 5 stars. While I think Quenepo is the best food of the three, and therefore likely on the island, the reason for a 1 star deduction is service. Not that it was bad, it was just sort of "bring me what I ask for" instead of helping to enhance your dining experience with recommendations and information about their food. Overall, I would say that a trip to Vieques also means a requisite trip to El Quenepo. read more

For atmosphere and ambiance, it is definitely five stars. For the food, it was very disappointing. We ordered four appetizers for our meal, so we could try as many things as possible. The beef tartar was pasty and under seasoned. The ceviche was marinated in what tasted like straight lemon juice and had lots of onions, so while the fish and calamari were fresh, the balance of flavor was lacking. The mash on the octopus dish and the accompanying sauce was flavorful, but the poor pulpo had been overcooked and was rubbery. The tempura prawns were the one standout dish--they were delicious, light, and perfectly cooked. Our dining companions had a dairy allergy which they indicated when ordering, and they salad came out with cheese on it. Maybe the place was just having an off night. read more

While visiting Esparanza Vieques for 5 days we had dinner here 3 nights. We found the high bar chairs uncomfortable but otherwise the food, drinks and service were of the highest standards. read more

I am pleased to say that El Quenepo redeemed itself nicely from a poor first impression (that I did not review) a year ago. You will not find a more creative and upscale cuisine in Vieques where local dishes and ingredients are merged into exotic oriental, Jamaican, and international dishes. The ambiance is simple chick with attentive servers and friendly managers. Serving time may try your patience on a busy night, but the artistic plating of generous portions will redeem the long wait. The very heavy use of uncommon spices and herbs may overwhelm many palates as it has twice done to me - hence the denial of the fifth star. read more

This was my favorite dinner on Vieques. Next Course was a CLOSE second but Quenepo outshined them for me because there just was absolutely nothing I could say about the entrees critically, at all, and the dessert here was a HAIR better. Same disclaimer from my Next Course review...this is island dining so while the food is 5-star, please don't expect the accompanying decor and white linen. This isn't the upper west side in NYC. drinks: canteloupe and orange martini - i always appreciate quality of ingredients. this had fresh squeezed canteloupe and orange in it and a hefty swig of alcohol. worth the money and tasty! apps: artichoke caesar salad - WONDERFUL. I love an inhouse made caesar dressing. exceptional shrimp and gnocchi - the one thing i didn't like. 2 shrimp and a pile of gnocchi for like $15...not impressive crab/goat cheese wontons - my favorite appetizer! I love this twist on the classic chinese crab and cheese wontons. the goat cheese flavor changed everything in a good way! dinner: the steak with wine reduction and potatoes duck breast with duck confit - hands down, THE best duck breast and confit I have every had. It was interestingly paired iwth a blueberry compote type sauce and corn waffles! Amazing!!! my mouth is watering now thinking abouti t! dessert: i had the s'more gelato cup. It was AMAZING. They roasted a real marshmallow and stuck it on a sugar cane stick in the gelato, with an almond biscotti...it was a bourgeious adult version of the s'more, to die for! ambiance is mroe lively than next course, since this is on the strip in esperanza,...and i do think the decor and ambiance is a little nicer. The servers here were a bit more classy than divey, like at Next Course. Definitely recommend callling for a reservation and the ambiance is a bit louder at night since there is music and other street activities going on, on the strip. Parking isn't the greatest, catch a cab. read more

El Quenepo is a fine dining restaurant. The service is impeccable and the food is exactly what you expect. This was our expensive night out and it didn't disappoint. I had the special Watermelon Martini and it was delicious with fresh watermelon juice. We had the calamari for appetizer which was a little spicier than I anticipated but I'm also a wimp when it comes to spice. My husband had fish and I (was taking a break from all the fish) had a filet mignon. The food was just awesome. Very tasty and we weren't disappointed at all. read more

Loved our meal and the server that took care of us! Our chicken mofongo with rice and beans was extremely tasty. The menu options are very limited but what they have (local specialties) they do very well. I agree with an earlier reviewer's incredulity that this restaurant is practically empty - don't let that turn you away. read more

Fine dining that would hold it's own anywhere. It was an unexpectedly pleasant find. The food was sophisticated and delicious, the service - great! If you eat at one place on Vieques - do it here. Would come back here 100 times over. read more

Meh food at a princely price. Service was barely ok. Prawns had way too much breading so it was half raw. Chicken was ok but had three different sauces, each of which was fine but just seemed fancy for the sake of fancy. Poke was decent if lightly seasoned but had iceberg lettuce for some reason on it. Tuna steak didn't seem super fresh. Bill was exorbitant. All in all we left feeling worse than we entered. I added one star just for being on the island. read more

The food was outstanding and there were enough options that I think anyone would find something they would like on the menu. If not for the service I'd probably rate it 5 stars. Prices were in line with the quality considering the location. The ambience is great, but some noise seeps in from the street (especially the guys cruising up and down the boardwalk blasting their reggaeton). Maybe we had a new waiter or an off night, but the service was terrible. In the middle of reading the specials he said "Excuse me" and walked off to clear plates from another table. He then spent a good five minutes doing other things and talking with other employees, and didn't apologize or explain when he came back, just kept on going right where he had left off, and kept nervously muddling his way through the long list of specials. For the rest of the evening he wasn't particularly attentive. From reading the other reviews it seems like we didn't have a normal experience at El Quenepo. read more

Dinner was excellent. We ordered the specials of the night. Soup and pork belly appetizers and for dinner I had the lobster and my friend the Mofongo. We even had the "Joey" special dessert which was a chocolate lave cake. The staff was super friendly and down to earth. Had a great dinner and dining experience read more

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their specialty plate is Lobster. With that said, im more of a fresh fillet fish "catch of the day" gal. They do overdue their pepper in the seasoning, but i happen to like pepper. Service is great. Portions are small. Drinks are expensive, low in the alcohol high on the mix. Its not a gourmet experience but its only barely descent place in el Malecon area. read more

El Quenepo - Grilled Chillo and papaya vinaigrette - Caribbean Near Me - Vieques, Puerto Rico

My husband and I had one of the best meals of our lives at El Quenepo towards the end of our week-long honeymoon. We had heard amazing things from all of the locals, but also knew it was a tad pricey so we "saved" the experience for the end of our trip. El Quenepo is the epitome of fusion cooking and would be a success in any major US city. If you are more of a "meat separate from the veggie separate from the starch" person, this place isn't for you. Their dishes are creative, and combine flavors and styles. The food is not only delicious, but looks like an artistic creation. The portions are also very generous. We began with the seafood bisque, an item often ordered between my husband and me, and without a doubt, it was one of the very best bowls we've shared. It was on the slight spicy side - something I really enjoyed. My husband decided on one of their specials - the mofongo. We had eaten more traditional mofongo on our trip, which is made of plantains. This selection included other more creative ingredients, including pumpkin. It also didn't contain the basic meats of chicken or pork, but rather lobster. Want authentic Puerto Rican cusine? This isn't it. Want a creative, delicious, up-scale twist on a traditional dish? El Quenepo nailed that challenge. I ordered the Jaimaican shrimp that came with curry sweet potatoes, plantains, sliced almonds and a few other tastes that were incredible, but slightly unidentifiable. My meal was very spicy, as a Jamaican dish should be, and the various tastes blended perfectly. I've ordered "Jamaican shrimp" at run-of-the-mill US restaurants and it put those dishes to absolute shame. The only thing of which a visitor should be aware is the pricing of the "specials." The regular dinner menu items are typical prices for a nicer restaurant (about 18-28). The specials can plunge into the $40+ range and it obviously isn't advertised. We learned this from the locals, who gave the heads-up, and it's just something nice to know before assuming the specials (which all sound FABULOUS when read by your server) are in the same price-range as the other meals on the menu. The service was second to none. Kate, one of the co-owners (with her husband), is incredibly warm and welcoming, and goes to great lengths to ensure your visit is perfect. I wanted a picture and she proceeded to walk outside of the restaurant to grab a unique angle from the window at which we sat. Our server was also knowledgeable, fabulous and incredibly friendly. To summarize: if you visit Vieques, you must visit El Quenepo! You won't be disappointed. read more

What an experience! Friendly staff, definitely THE BEST food on the island! Great specials! I want to eat here every night! Try the mofungo! Worth every penny! read more

El Quenepo - Great atmosphere and very accommodating staff! - Caribbean Near Me - Vieques, Puerto Rico

To our great surprise, we found this fabulous restaurant in Esperanza! There were so many tempting possibilities on the menu, that my family and I had a devilish time deciding. We decided upon the ceviche and poke for appetizers. They were terrific! For dinner, we had the lobster, short rib special, and the tuna. All were flavorful. The cocktails were very well-made. The waitstaff were very pleasant and efficient, as well. The meal was so fabulous, that we will be returning tonight! read more

Best restaurant on Vieques, although a bit pricey! Portions sizes are big which helps justify the prices. Must try the lobster mofungo. Friendly staff. Unfortunately the restaurant is a bit closed in and doesn't get a great breeze, but that's my only complaint. read more

Came here for my birthday dinner and was not disappointed. The staff was attentive and knowledgeable, the ambiance was romantic, and the food was excellent. We got a mofongo special and the sous vide salmon. Both were absolutely delicious. To top it off we shared the Belgian chocolate sphere. Fan-f***ing-tastic. Seriously. They brought over a meted pot of dark chocolate and poured it over the sphere. Ot was awesome, even had little rasberries buried inside. If you want a fancier dinner / night out on Vieques, make this one of your stops. read more

El Quenepo was the first place my husband and I went to dinner after arriving on Vieques Island. Located on the south side of the island, El Quenepo is a great option for a fancy dinner. The dimly lit restaurant has an ambiance that is simply romantic. The menu is full of amazing options, and they have a Spanish and English menu for ease. For starters, we shared the Hermano de Caprese, which means caprese's brother. It's basically a modern take on a caprese salad, with vine ripened tomatoes, sourdough crisps, fresh mozzarella stuffed with prosciutto and wrapped in grilled romaine lettuce, with little pearls of balsamic vinegar on the side. For dinner, I had the mofongo, which rather than the typical mashed plantains, they make theirs with breadfruit grown in their backyard and fill it with Caribbean lobster, shrimp, and lump crabmeat. My husband had the ribeye two ways, which has two different cuts of juicy ribeye steak served with Yukon mashed potatoes, brocollini, and roasted baby onions. Everything looked amazing, and tasted even better. I'd recommend El Quenepo to anyone looking for a romantic dinner on their island getaway. read more

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Love the food, and the drinks specially the coconut martinis. The staff is always very pleasant and so are the owners. Every time I go to Vieques I always eat at El Quenepo! read more

Outstanding food. Best restaurant on the island. Excellent wait staff. Inventive menu and they have several daily specials too. Best mofongo I've ever had with plenty of lobster meat and just the right amount of spice. Make reservstions. read more

El Quenepo - Mofongo with lobster - Caribbean Near Me - Vieques, Puerto Rico

Delicious meal, as usual. Interesting creative menu perfectly executed. Friendly very professional staff made our evening perfect. read more

Would give 0 stars if possible. Do not go here. Got the crab fritters and halibut. Was mediocre and definitely not worth the price. Waiter and staff was also horrendous and bad at communicating. Water costs $8, which is ridiculous. read more

Well, we came here tonight thinking that we should give it another shot after a lackluster experience three years ago but unfortunately we were unimpressed and decided never to return. This is one of those restaurants that tries too hard to be haute cuisine. The Póke was salty, The duck salad was awkward and also salty, and the service sucks. read more

If I could give -5 stars I would. It was by far one of the worst dining experiences I've had. Everything was fine, at first. The host and hostess were both very nice and could seat us without a reservation, which we were grateful for on a Saturday night. As we expressed, before asking for availability, that we (my husband and I) are both vegans. We were excited that they at least had one dinner menu item, a curry, and we were seated promptly. Once seated we again stated to our waiter that we were vegan, and again we were told the curry was their only option. Great. We ordered the curry. In bringing out food the runner or another helpful staff member brought out curry to our table full of seafood, she must have seen my face and quickly removed the food from the table, and stated "oh I'm sorry you're vegan, I'm at the wrong table". We let it slide and waited for our vegan curry to arrive... and it did. It was amazingly beautiful and vegan! But digging into the dish is where things went BAD, fast! Beneath the beautiful arrangement of random leaves and full stem cilantro was a big pile of.... nothing! Really! It was just red soup, one very small whole piece of what I assume was bok choy, one cross section of cut grilled pineapple and half a lime. The soup was just enough to cover the bottom of the bowl and could not be spooned, however, it was enough to make the half of lime (cross cut) unable to squeeze over the "meal" as it was covered in sauce. Every bite was gritty with sand as I don't believe the bok choy was properly cleaned, as it was still one whole piece ( very small piece) the pineapple, which could have saved the show was a small cross section and was nothing but core. The rest of the "curry" was three uncut and what seemed to be unwashed mushrooms and 3-4 grape tomatoes cut in half. There also appeared to be about 3 shaving of what I guessed was chayote. There was honestly nothing in this bowl. This cost us a whooping 58 dollars, not to mention a $14 glass of cheap malbec, which was probably the cost of the entire bottle. To be honest, the wine was mediocre and I can live with the extreme mark up, but the food... it's where I draw the line. We paid our bill and I was going to try to speak with what I thought was the manager as I left, to let them know about our experience, but she avoided us like the plague and went from table to table "pouring water". I'm not sure if this is typical for this establishment, or it's just how they treat their vegan patrons, but it was TERRIBLE! STYLE OVER SUBSTANCE. Form over function and a horrible way to treat someone supporting your business. read more

Food was excellent, probably the best on the island...and certainly recommended as such by everyone we spoke to on Vieques and even those we spoke with in San Juan. I had the pork tenderloin...amazing! Others at my table had the lobster mofongo, churrasco, goat curry, and octopus. I tried every one: all thoughtful and very tasty! Great portion sizes, good beer list, good wine list. Most of the waitstaff was very accommodating: they had screwed up the reservation but, after some hemming and hawing, agreed to let our party sit together instead of at 2 separate tables. Why this needed deliberation is beyond me. My only gripe is that it is perhaps trying a little too hard to be haute cuisine. It's already the presumptive best on the island, and the appearance of the restaurant is the most well-thought-out, so any efforts by the staff to adhere to rigorous fine dining etiquette appeared over the top and out of place. I live in DC and am no stranger to fancy dining, but the staff (except for our awesome server) had a way of making even me feel a little uncomfortable. Also, everyone seemed to be living in fear of the owner--something we were able to pick up just sitting there watching their interactions...awkward. The food is awesome, let that carry the day. Note: Word to the wise, I was glad that I brought pants and a button-down shirt. This place is by no means formal, but definitely don't wear your beach gear there. read more

Best restaurant in Vieques for foodies...quality service, solid food, excellent atmosphere read more

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Read the great reviews and found myself walking by so I asked, "may I see your menu?" To which they replied, "we're closed for a private party." To which I replied, "may I see a menu?" To which he replied, " we're actually closed for two weeks after that." Message received. YOU DON'T WANT MY BUSINESS! read more

Realmente un servicio muy malo, gaste una semana de vacaciones en esta isla hice la reservación. Para estar a tono con la exigencia del restaurante y al llegar pedí cambio de mesa ahun q no pedí nada especifico la mesa q quería estaba vacía y no me cambian luego se hace la orden y llega mi comida primero y luego la de mi fiancé q a pesar q le dije al mes esto era mi main plate omitió y jamás se acercó a la mesa fue la host quien recibió los platos y me trajo la cuenta cobrando al final realmente estoy en el medio y es muy frustrante ver q de ningunas era les importé Dánae mi noche cuñado lugares acércanos por menos dinero me ha brindado un mejor servicio de calidad y realmente cuidando el Custume service por eso realmente les digo la comida bien pero el servicio pésimo la atención pésima deben mejorar por q el dinero y el tiempo de cada caliente vale por igual Gracias espero mejoren .... read more

Our experiences at El Quenepo both nights we were there last week during our time on Vieques were fantastic and enjoyable. We went one late night for drinks and then again the next night for dinner. Dining on the Malecon in Esperanza used to be just so-so...so we were thrilled to see that a restaurant of this caliber had opened since the last time we visited. The owners and staff were delightful and friendly and engaging and the food was prepared spot-on and with creativity. The space is tasteful, modern, opened to the Malecon with big, breezy windows and is thoughfully designed and comfortable. We both agreed that this was our favorite dining experience since we've been visiting the island. read more

I have been using Yelp and Trip advisor for the longest time, but have slacked when it comes to contributing reviews. However, my very recent experience at El Quenepo got me so perturbed that I have to share this information. After spending a wonderful day in Vieques on the fabulous beaches and snorkeling in the clear waters, we had built up a good appetite. After checking out most of the menus at other restaurants we decided on this place because it seemed to have some vegetarian options - and the owner claimed to be vegetarian at well. We were there in the off season and the place was not crowded, however they told us that it would take a few minutes to get seated and since we were starving we decided to wait the "few minutes". After waiting for 30 minutes we finally got seated... and it was all downhill from here. The waiter was extremely rude and even after many requests that she take our order quickly we had to wait and wait... When she eventually took it, she messed up a simple drink order. Half the table did not get any water and I had to remind her for my beer after 10 minutes of waiting (everyone else on the table had their drinks). At this point a simple apology would have been fine, but instead she got even ruder. When we finally ordered the main course, we requested for some bread at the table and ordered food that she promised would be the quickest. Then the wait began. It got close to an hour an half since we got seated and there was still no sign of the food. I asked the waiter a few times and every time she would rudely say "your food is almost ready, will be a few minutes". We were even denied of extra bread that we were ready to pay for. I finally lost patience and walked up to the owner of the restaurant to find out what was going on. To my dismay, she turned out to be worse than the waitress. I would have understood if she said that she was understaffed or made any other excuse. Instead of an apology I got a response of - it's not been an hour and a half since we got you seated at the table at 7:52 and not 7:45... so there is nothing we can do. This really pissed us off... an hour and half of waiting, some tiny piece of crummy bread and a week sangria (I was glad I got the beer) and being repeatedly insulted, we decided that that was it and wanted to leave. I approached the owner again and told her that we could not wait any longer and were tired of being insulted by rude waitresses and host... and we are leaving. Also, we were not the only people in the restaurant who were tired of waiting for our food, the other patrons were also falling asleep with the heads on the table. At this point, she got even more aggressive and told us that even if we left we would have to pay for the food we had not yet eaten. I was happy to pay for the crappy drinks, but she threatened us that the "local kitchen staff" would not appreciate it and that we must pay for the food. If I was in my home town of San Francisco, I would have called the cops, but did not want to pick up a fight with the locals in land that felt foreign. So... in summary, we paid 250 bucks for crappy drinks, two pieces for tiny bread and the worst service I have received at any restaurant in the world. We were looking forward to this place after reading all the glowing reviews, but unfortunately, it turned out to be a nightmare. We went over to Trade winds who got us some decent food in 10 mins accompanied by wonderful service. I hope the owners of this restaurant read this and improve their ways... I for sure will NEVER go back to this place. Update 7/14 - i'm surprised that Yelp has flagged this review... I wonder why, but now i understand why ppl have concerns about the selective deleting of reviews. read more

I haven't even left this place and I already hate it. We were a party of 12 girls and 5 of us decided to get 3 starters and 2 entrees for all of us. Well, surprise surprise the restaurant charged us a 5$ fee per person for "sharing dishes" just because not all of us ordered entrees. It's a very sad fact for a group of 5 that spent almost 200$ counting beverage and desert....just not worth for preserving client relations. Very very disappointed so people don't come here. Also it is totally overpriced....35$ for a mofongo!!!! And the waitress and manager were extremely rude. Just don't know what else to say, too many bad things to write then all down. Do not come!!!! read more

This is probably the best meal I had in Vieques. Tried the mufungo which was served fried. A different approach but still delicious. They had and amazing pork chop as well. Great service, and friendly staff. They do have open air dining so remember to bring the bug repellent. read more

El Quenepo...overpriced menu items, mediocre food, awkward service staff are all characteristics of this wondrous place but pretentious is probably going to be the best word to describe your overall experience at this North Carolinian chef's restaurant. We had 3 appetizers, shared an entree and we also had their soup of the day which was Seafood Chowder. Of all that were ordered, only the soup stuck in my mind. I must say that it was truly delicious. Hence, the two stars. Our experience started with calling the restaurant to ask whether they were still open as we were having a late night meal. The hostess who answered the phone was very vague and kept instead asking when we were coming. After informing her that we were right around the corner and provided her with the 5 minute estimated arrival time, she avoided couple of other questions including but not limited to 'when the kitchen would be closed?' so we gave up and started walking towards the restaurant. As soon as we entered, we were directed to the bar. At this time, the bartender's back was turned to us and he was having a conversation with one of the servers. We were sitting there for 10 minutes during which time the server who was facing us never said a word to alert the bartender of the existence of customers. Maybe it was because it was late and people were finishing their meals but still made for a very awkward experience. The bartender and the chit chatting serving staff exhibited the same behavior when another couple arrived and sat at the bar. Once we got a table, things seemed to start looking up. Our waitress was a very friendly lady and she definitely made the experience better, not by her friendliness but by her odd recommendations throughout our meal. First, we received the long introduction to what is known to the rest of the world as THE DIPPING OIL. Honestly, I dozed off a little while she was explaining what went into this completely underwhelming oil and once I came to myself, I was unsure of what she was talking about. I did, however, woke right up when she mentioned that we 'should not eat the bay leaves'; a sentence that exposed her to our confused stares which she tried to avoid by nervous laughter and an explanation of how people sometimes eat it. This was the second high point of the evening. Last but not least, when the bill arrived with a small stone on top of the receipt so that it would not fly, our waitress did not fail us and kindly reminded us that we also should not eat the stone. Further discussion revealed that there has been a lot of confusion among El Quenepo's guests whether that was in fact a cookie or not. To recap, first highlight was the soup, second was the introductions into bay leaves, and third was most definitely the eating of the stone. For $75 per person including tip, we walked away with this story and not much else. I would probably never go back there except maybe for the soup which I would most likely request TO GO. Very disappointing experience overall. read more