It's been four years since my last visit to Vieques and I'm sorry it took that long. Especially with a few new restaurants turning out high quality food options. (Even the old standbys are upgrading their options.) On a Wednesday night with a pretty good crowd, (peak week, right before Christmas), we were seated immediately. Better to get there on the early side but also avoid the pre bio bay tour groups that want to eat before the 6:30 tours. On this visit we ordered two specials, red snapper and mofongo, (aka mo-fo). Their Puerto Rican specialty was made a bit differently than typical to make it a bit "lighter". (If that's possible.) My red snapper came out head and all, with the meat white, flaky and delicious. Not sure how long these dishes will be available, but I'm sure for a while longer. Lots of other options from fish, to pasta, meats etc. Prices run a bit high, and our server was at times not available, but the hostess and owner were very nice and were available to get things moving when the waiter temporarily vanished. Recommend a visit. read more

BEAUTIFUL setting, great ambience, fantastic/well-paced/friendly service, wonderful owners, delicious food, mouthwatering cocktails... all in all, I'm a fan and will likely be back here on my next trip. I just have to admit that next time, I may stick to ordering only appetizers (lots and lots of them), as the ones we had were fantastic-- and actually better than the entrees themselves. This (the reduced satisfaction experienced as we progressed from appetizers to mains to desserts) is the reason for the missing star on my review and leaving me somewhat disappointed. Perhaps next time won't be this way... read more

Good food and great service. Our waitress was extremely friendly and helpful in helping us pick our dishes. I ordered a salad which was superb with plenty of fresh greens, local vegetables, and local fruit. I got a pork dish that was so-so and my dining partner got the mofongo which was very tasty. Delicious caipirinhas! My one request would be, for the menu that changes daily, that it be available either online or at least on a chalkboard outside the restaurant. Also, make sure to put on plenty of mosquito repellent beforehand, we sat by the windows up front and got eaten up! We would definitely recommend this restaurant to someone looking for a nice dining experience in Esperanza. read more

Seriously you need to eat here if on Vieques. You won't regret your decision. Normally we eat dinner around 9pm, which we found to be limiting on Vieques. El Quenepo was one of the only restaurants still open. I wasn't expecting much given our other experiences in PR at larger restaurants (we loved the street food). In fact when I saw the menu and prices I was thinking oh great another overpriced restaurant where we're going to be disappointed. I was so wrong! We started with a couple of drinks. They are a bit pricey but definitely worth it. It's not the kind of drink you slurp down quick. They are to be savored. Mine lasted the entire meal. The food was amazing. I can't even explain how good it was. The attention to detail, the freshness, the blend of spices was so good. My husband got the ceviche and the lobster. He is a foodie so it's hard to impress him. He loved both and was in awe of the freshness and the flavors. I had the carnitas. It was the best carnitas I have ever had - hands down. Having lived in San Diego, I've had my fair share of authentic carnitas. But these were something else. Every bite was a different experience. At the end of our meal the chef's wife (whom I guess manages the front of the restaurant) came over and chatted with us. She mentioned that every time they travel they bring back spices in their suitcase and the spices in the carnitas came from their last trip to Mexico. I believe it! The dessert was okay. I kind of regret taking the chocolate cake. But the dessert martini was amazing. The atmosphere and ambiance is so chill and relaxing. It's literally right across from the beach in Esperanza. The fans kept it cool but it felt tropical. A crab even crawled in at the end of the night. Overall, it was amazing and completely unexpected. It's a bit pricey but definitely worth it. read more

My wife and I loved this restaurant as a true date-night place. It is pricey, but the food is delicious. Very romantic atmosphere.

el quenepo is a beautiful little outdoor restaurant located on the malecon in vieques, puerto rico. the view of the caribbean makes this restaurant worth it. we started off our meal with the conch and cappellini fritters. they came accompanied with a grilled banana and two different kinds of sauce. one was a banana sauce and the other was the local hot sauce, coqui fire. i've had better conch fritters before so i wasn't overly impressed with these. my friend liked them. the cappellini gave them an 'interesting' texture. i'm not so sure that was a good thing. i did love the grilled banana that garnished the plate. we also had their version of ceviche. this was not very impressive. there was very little seasoning working here and the main flavor was citrus. i was hoping for some cilantro and perhaps some heat. the one thing this ceviche had working for it was the pieces of ginger that were incorporated into it. that was a nice touch. for my entree, i ordered the special which was a cassava and breadfruit mofongo with spicy criollo sauce and lobster and shrimp. this dish was OUTSTANDING! it really did save the restaurant for me. the flavor profile of the sauce was amazing. there was just enough heat there for me to taste. the mofongo was light and delicious. the shrimp and the lobster were cooked perfectly. the dish was garnished with crispy leeks and orange zest which was really nice. my only complaints regarding this restaurant were the service and drinks. our waiter sucked. he spent more time conversing with the local clientele than dealing with his tables. and the mojitos we had were the worst i've ever had in my life. those are two things that can be fixed . read more

El Quenepo is a GREAT restaurant!! It was so good, that my wife and I ate there twice on our recent honeymoon to the island. On both occasions, we were greeted by a very warm host/hostess and had very likable and personable waitstaff. The drinks were delicious and the conch fritters were out of this world! The entrees are a bit pricey, but they are great sized portions and are of top quality. I can not say enough about El Quenepo and when we return to the island, it is a definite must in my eyes! read more

So for our last night on the island we decided to splurge for a fancy dinner at the highest end place on the malecon. The portions were obsenely gigantic, even when we chose the $5 split entre option. The lobster was not so great but I highly recommend the ceviche app. The two of us had a glass of sangria each, had our own apps (which would have been plenty enough for a full meal) and split an entre and the total bill was over $120. I'd recommend you just hit Billi next door as it's fresher and more affordable. Although, el quenepo has the most variety and fancy options, but who wants to go to a secluded puerto rican island and eat fois gras in the heat? Plus, the salad was drenched in dressing. I kinda get the feeling it was like a gourmet applebees for cruise ships that stop in Esperanza. read more

Nice to have them fully open again after the hurricane. A truly wonderful dining experience with great service and we'll prepared food. A wonderful pear salad to start and then a prawn curry and a grilled salmon for dinner. Coconut bread pudding for dessert, plenty to share. Definitely a higher end dinner but so worth it. read more

Yummy! The food and service here was so phenomenal, we ate here twice during our four day stay on the island. The husband-wife team have created the best culinary experience on the island for people who like creative flavor combinations using local ingredients. We tried the Mixed Grill, whole snapper, and tuna dishes, all prepared perfectly. The chocolate Joey on the desert menu was also great. read more

This place is excellent on all dimensions. Great service, a trendy spot with ocean view from many of seats. A bit noisy, but that's all part of the charm. The food was really, really good and generous portions, too. Warmly recommend this place! read more

This place has great ambiance for an island restaurant. So far the best food I've had in Vieques. My husband and I ordered the Stone crab bisque soup for starters, it was very creamy and tasty, somehow I can taste a hint of truffle oil / porcini which gives a mushroom flavor to the bisque which I really like. We also had some Portuguese calamari, it was handled perfectly. The squid wasn't over cooked and you can taste the tang from the tomatoes & olives that gives this dish a fresh flavor. For our main course we ordered the 2lbs spiny lobster, it was delicious, again it was handled well and it wasn't overlooked, hence it was a juicy lobster. And of course we got to have the seafood Mofongo as well, and it was also a delight. For Desert, I ordered the chocolate truffle & my husband got the ricotta cheesecake, both are very delicious and not too sweet. I am pleased with everything we had at this place! read more

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We hosted our rehearsal dinner for our wedding at El Quenepo. We picked it initially because they could accommodate the size of our party and they were more reasonably priced than the W Hotel. We lucked out and got way more than we bargained for. From the food to the service, El Quenepo was one of the best parts of our wedding weekend. Kate, the co-owner with her chef husband, was so easy and understanding to work with. She worked with us on dishes (including dietary restrictions) and on budget. The food is some of the best I have eaten in my entire life, especially their lamb 3-ways. The fish is truly catch of the day, their mofongo is light and airy, and their drink concoctions are unique. I am not sure the next time I will be on Vieques, but I know that I will never visit Vieques without eating at El Quenepo. read more

This restaurant is excellent in all aspects. For an island town, service is hit or miss, usually the latter. Just walking in you're greeting by smiling friendly faces (apparently not the norm here) and it continues throughout the entire time spent in this establishment. The waiters that we had while there were incredibly knowledgeable about the food and the specials (and believe me, there was ALOT to remember!) Our waiter got our order wrong and admitted it was his error and as quickly as possible brought out the correct entree. The place is very clean and trendy. We walked in both times and sat at the bar however I would definitely recommend making a reservation. The meals are long so if you're in a hurry this wouldn't be the place for you. We are fans and wish we had a similar place near us! read more

This is my favorite restaurant in Vieques, and this comes from a local foodie and frequent traveler. Quenepo is an interesting journey offering some traditional Puerto Rican favorites, mofonfo, tostones, arepas, in a creative yet sophisticated and delicious way. The chef blends Caribbean/Puerto Rican flavors with american and asian. The mofongyyo here is the best if you have not tried it anywhere else. Roasted lobster is also delicious and a must try. The restaurant ambience is very cool and elegant. If you have one restaurant to pick while visiting Vieques, this is it. You won't regret. read more

My wife & I found this to be our favorite restaurant in Vieques & one of the best in Puerto Rico. On top of that, the service was wonderful. They are vegetarian friendly, though they don't list all their vegetarian items on the menu. The vegetarian mufongo was the best we had on this trip. It is a hard place to find seating, so make a reservation or come during non rush time. read more

Very high quality ingredients, great food, a bit pricey, just ok service. Given this is in Vieques, I give it 5 stars. If this was elsewhere, I would give it 4. I was amazed at how fresh the ingredients were in all the dishes I had given how small the island is. The food here is on par with that of any nice white tablecloth restaurant I have been to. I would return here without hesitation. If I didn't find Bili's next door which is more casual and thus preferred, I would have come to El Quenepo for every dinner. read more

I don't think that I would trust anyone's advice on any restaurant if they gave this place less than four stars. This place is amazing. Incredibly creative menu. Our table had encrusted tuna (you can get that anywhere, but it was good), some local gumbo-like dish, the local lobster, and some appetizers. Pretty amazing menu and great sauces. This is well worth it. It reminded me of an amazing little French restaurant in Moorea in French Polynesia. The only "nice" place in town. But well worth eating there every night. This is definitely a hipster dream. Lots of creativity in a unique setting that corporate America hasn't touched. read more

What can I say? The food here is incredible. Out of all the restaurants my party and I went to during our week on the island, this is the only one we frequented. If nothing else, the fact that recommendations are more or less necessary (especially on the weekends) should indicate that El Quenepo is a winner. Not only is the food exceptional, the wine list is great, as is Kate, the owner. Of the appetizers, I had the tuna poke and the corn crepe (I think that's what it was called...) and they were great. Another member of my group said the jerk chicken was marvellous, and judging by the look and the smell alone, I wouldn't doubt her. El Quenepo features a number of specials daily, and the only downside to this is that they make making a decision that much harder. In the end, whatever you decide to order, you won't be disappointed. read more

Amazing food from starters to dessert. 14 people all different meals all amazing! Hard to please this many without a single complaint, inclusive of 4 kids. Couldn't recommend any higher!! read more

This was the worst restaurant I have ever been to. I would give it negative stars if possible. The appetizers, which weren't cheap (around $14) were tiny and mediocre at best, followed by a main course that was literally inedible and had to be returned. They then proceeded to make me feel badly about it, and then told me the assistant chef was still learning. I was supposed to pay $30 to eat something improperly cooked by a chef in training. The main chef came over and was incredibly rude and arrogant. In the end they made no accommodation other then agreeing to not charge me for the one dish of inedible food. This place should either not consider itself a restaurant, or hire a chef who has actually eaten food before. Don't waste your time or money. read more

So I think the annoying clientele seated near us did influence our experience BUT given the price the service was meh and some of the food was mediocre. We shared the shrimp and plantain gnocchi app and it was good but with only two shrimp the server might have told us that when we said we'd share. My main course - shrimp, conch and squid on a scallion pancake and grilled banana was awesome! I could have had seconds or thirds, but my partner's grouper was under seasoned and just okay. I had eaten grouper a few nights in a row at other restaurants and all were prepared better. If you aren't putting salt and pepper on the tables make sure your fish is somewhat seasoned. Anyhow, we skipped dessert. I would recommend the place, but I don't think it's as good as it seems to think it is.... read more

Excellent, excellent restaurant. The staff was incredibly friendly and helpful. The food was delicious. I had the mofongo special which was amazing. Everyone in my family thoroughly enjoyed their meal. Just of note, it is loud in the restaurant. read more

This is as good as it gets for Vieques - not exactly a culinary destination. The food here was pretty good... pretty fresh and creative with their utilization of local ingredients.. but of course it comes with a NYC-like price tag. Don't come here expecting a local meal.. it's a very "mainland USA" restaurant, run completely by non-locals that serves gourmet style (think Blue Water Grill) type dishes, for gourmet prices in a classy-beachy environment. I had the seared tuna steak crusted in sesame and it was pretty damn tasty.. but really not that special. BUT like I said, for lack of a better option, come here. The rest of the restaurants on this row are kind of crap. read more

During our Vieques honeymoon, my husband and I decided early in our trip to save up for a splurge at El Quenepo, but the experience didn't completely live up to our expectation. We ordered the fresh caught whole fish (LOVED the garnishing food!) and the mofonogo with peanut butter cheesecake (so-so) and the chocolate torte (very rich). We liked our food more or less, but we were hoping for more punch for our buck. When we return to Vieques, we do plan to revisit El Quenepo for at least dessert. read more

The food is good but very, very expensive. They use way too many ingredients in each dish, which I think is why they charge so much. The Thai curry is extremely spicy....almost inedible...and I asked for the lowest amount of heat. One of our diners ordered the beef. The steak was good but the stew portion was way too sweet. The place is really beautiful though. read more

Ingredients were fresh and creative. Great atmosphere. Carnitas were delicious. Goat masalla also delicious just look out for bones and whole spices. Tuna poke with mango and avocado was perfect. We spent $$$$ because we had several drinks, plus the tuna appetizer and each had a desert and coffee. It was worth the treat on vacation For dessert the cheesecake was tasty and light, the s'more was really different and also yummy. There is a parking lot across the street (that I think is public) so parking was easy. Fun to walk along the malecon before or after dinner. read more

Shockingly good place in the middle of nowhere. Romantic, fun, great menu, good service. The prices are a little high for Vieques, but about what we'd pay for the same here in CA. We preferred the dishes that were seafood based and Caribbean oriented. The dishes that strayed from those categories were a little weak. The passion fruit panna cotta with orange-saffron gelato and almond cinnamon biscotti was the highlight, absolutely. read more

We just had to spluge a little and treat ourselves to a nice dinner. The ambiance is so relaxing and decorated nicely. The food is great, it's definitely pricey, but no more than an upscale/trendy restaurant in NYC. Was a nice end to our stay in Vieques. read more

We went with the ahi poke and calamari and were pleased but not blown away. For entrees we had the specials - seafood risotto and triggerfish - and were quite impressed. Dessert - the smores, coffee martini, and port - were a tossup. A tie for the best restaurant on the island, and the only place worth dressing up for. read more

We definitely enjoyed the atmosphere, people, location but I guess I was expecting this was the best place to experience Shrimp Mofongo for the first time. While it looked beautiful I thought the flavor and the textures were lacking. My fiance wasn't bowled over either. Will definitely go back to try something else because I really wanted to love this place. read more

Beautiful atmosphere, excellent food, and great service. Lobster mofongo was delicious and fulfilling. If you are in beautiful Vieques, this is a must have restaurant. read more

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

Terrific food options - as long as you're not a vegetarian. The portions are large, and unfortunately there's a 5 dollar plate splitting fee. That said, our meals were flavorful, the environment was comfortable but classy, and the service was terrific. We came without reservations, and had to wait a few minutes to be seated, but our food was out fast - especially considering the large parties that were seated right before us. I'd go again if there were time, I'd probably try a fish/seafood option rather than the steak, which was great but not outstanding and a tad heavy on the truffle oil. read more

This place is fantastic. No, it's not the cheapest, but food in PR is not that cheap in general. If I'm going to pay $18 for a more authentic Puerto Rican meal somewhere (for example, paid about that much for a so-so mofongo down the street the previous night, I'd much rather pay $23-$28 for a creative meal from a restaurant that I don't think would have trouble thriving in much more competitive cities. My wife and I went on a Thursday night and both got specials - I got a pulled leg of lamb dish and she got a pecan-encrusted mahi-mahi in a Thai-style green curry sauce/soup with noodles. We liked it so much we went back the next night and got two very different dishes, off their regular menu - I got the churrasco and she got a penne-arugula salad with chorizo and grilled chicken. And we finished it off with some sorbet - lemon, papaya, and lemongrass flavors. I would recommend this restaurant to anyone going to Vieques - even if you're staying in Isabel II and didn't rent a car and can only splurge once, make this it. read more

The place is beautiful and always packed. Def call ahead to make a reservation. Everything on the menu sound and is amazing, can't go wrong with anything. My only complaint is that their prices are higher than many amazing new York restaurants. I understand puerto Rico is the U.S but that does not mean everything has to be twice as expensive. The place is run by all Americans, and I didn't see any local or puerto Ricans for that matter eating here. read more

We had a group of 7 there for dinner with a reservation. We were stuck at these high tables that are very difficult to sit at. The food was good, but the servers were pompous and unpleasant. Our teenage daughters ordered two appetizers and a large salad between them. They didn't ask for any plates to share. The rest of us ordered full meals and drinks. Our check was by no means cheap. I was shocked when the server added a sharing charge for both daughters on our check. Even though they both ordered something, we were told that they shared the salad. Now that is ridiculous. In little Esperanza there are lots of places with good food and that are friendlier and cheaper. Save some money and grief and go elsewhere. read more

Whole, fresh local yellowtail was amazing! My wife had Monfongo that was so flavorful. Kate was so sweet and gave us some great recommendations as far as traveling and adventuring. read more

Excellent warm elegant island ambience (one of the owners is a former interior decorator and it shows), welcoming staff including the owner. Appetizers were delicious. We passed around the Poke, wilted spinach salad, field greens and calamari (not fried and spicy) Mains were great - Lobster Mofungo (using breadfruit versus plantains and was lighter), and swordfish - but the Tuna was awesome. Desserts - cheesecake and the sorbet were Ok, nothing special. We came at 6pm on Xmas eve because we were going out to bioluminescent bay for an 8pm tour. Service was efficient and timely. They now have a serious food competitor down the street from El Blok but El Quenepo has more elaborate food choices with interesting sauces. Four stars or five in a major urban area - 5 stars, one of the best in Vieques read more

We just returned from an AMAZING trip to Vieques and I had booked a dinner here on the last night of our trip to celebrate and send ourselves off in style. It was a blessing and curse to only have one night left as we might have eaten here every night! Kate (the owner) is lovely and Amy (our waitress) was awesome. We wished we had more time on the island - would have been fun to have drinks with her! The ambiance is perfect - simple and easy to relax and enjoy in. My boyfriend is allergic to seafood and I love to share with him so... We had sweet potato gnocchi with browned butter sage for our appetizer along with a grilled caeser salad - both YUM! He had the homeless boneless chicken for his main course and I enjoyed an incredible tuna dish - both super yummy... We were full (large portions) but couldn't resist the pecan pie with burnt caramel gelato oh and a couple great cocktails - yummy sangria, a green tea vodka drink and my boyfriend ordered a rum drink he really enjoyed. It was a VERY special evening - truly worth the splurge but even if you are on a budget, treat yourself, share a few appetizers, etc. You will not regret it! read more

The restaurant was good but not over the moon fantastic that we had been told. The atmosphere was nice, food was original, service was great. I had the fish in a bag which was delicious but thing the parchment bag should be "presented" then somehow removed as it ended up being part of the dinner in the end. read more