After a less-than stellar dinner the night before, and a long but amazing day on a PR tour, we…read morecleaned up for a dinner out at Ropa Vieja. Attire was relaxed-- I saw ladies in pants as well as dresses, men in pants and shorts, but the staff was dressed sharply in all black. We waited a bit while two hosts and a manager worked to assemble several tables on the patio for a group of ten which had arrived before us. The patio decor-- murals and greenery, were beautiful.
We requested indoor seating near the bar, and were the second of four tables to be filled. The indoor seating was a bit darker, had two bartenders working nonstop, and three televisions were playing inside. The inside seating area was quieter and more intimate (plus cooler in temperature) than the patio option.
Our server, Raul, promptly greeted us and asked if we preferred English or Spanish. Promising to give honest recommendations of our selections, he did-- and made great suggestions as well. We started with risotto balls as an appetizer-- the guava dipping sauce was delicious. They were cheesier than my husband could stomach, so several remained on our plate.
For our entrees, my husband chose the Ropa Vieja en Canoa (peeled, hollowed out like a canoe). I selected the Fried Red Snapper (served whole) with creole sauce, a house salad (lettuce, tomatoes, red onion, orange slices, mango dressing) and fried sweet plantains. After a bite, I asked for a glass of Blanc de Blancs, which was a wonderful, crisp pairing.
We could not finish our meals, much less entertain the offer of dessert.
By the time we left, all four tables were being served inside, there were four gyesss eating dinner at the bar, and the patio seating looked maxed out as well. Ropa Vieja was certainly the best dinner experience we've had in these first three nights in San Juan. So happy the reviews were on point with this one!
