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    Verde Mesa

    4.5 (55 reviews)
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    Conch salad
    Hannah P.

    This was a great place we stumbled into while wandering Old San Juan. They operate on first come first serve with a waitlist, only. Your best bet is to walk in to contact them in person rather than call or contact them online, good luck. The interior decor is very cute and kitschy: homey vibes with fun dinnerware. Our server was very friendly. The conch salad was very chilling and fresh. The Lamb filled triángolis was essentially thin lamb dumplings and they were good, nothing to write home about. The Pork cheeks stew with the gnocchi was so rich: the pork was so tender, the sauce was the perfect amount (for sauce lovers), and the combined texture of the gnocchi was absolutely phenomenal! I had the Creamy coconut tremble for dessert and it was the perfect light dessert, excellent coconut flavors.

    Bret B.

    Our son suggested this restaurant and we had a great family meal with excellent (friendly) service, amazing food and wine, and perfect table on the back wall. We were not dressed appropriately for this fine dining spot. I suspect they are used to it as they didn't blink. We were not the only ones. Regardless, when we return, we will dress appropriately :) We were super hungry as we did not eat much this day and ordered several apps when the sever came to get our water order. The tomato salad, cucumber salad, toast with some crazy good dipping sauce, and conch salad, were super fresh and delicious. We enjoyed with excellent French & Spanish white wines by the glass. Amazing first course. Our son was just coming off duty and been in the field for a week eating MREs and freezing so he had three of the toast appetizers. Our son ordered family style lamb, the Dorado (they call it by its Hawaiian name to make it sound fancy) and the North African inspired rice. The dorado was just of the line fresh with a simple broth so it was perfectly moist, the lambs was a stew that was unreal. The rice is a great meal if you are veg or not. This is Puerto Rican owned and operated by a fantastic journeyman chef and lady of the house as it should be. Great work and nice to support some hardworking creative locals.

    Dean L.

    Great find down from Paloma Park. Sleeper of a location that lured us with a few deuces for Al fresco dining. There is a QR code for peeking at the menu, but a printed one in the window would probably have folks better consider a meal. With no direction or plans, we decided to splurge here as opposed to 99% of other cheap places that shout out happy hour with wings, fries and mofongo. (Truth told, I actually peeked into the postage stamp-sized kitchen where every cook donned clean chef coats instead of dingy t-shirts to make up my mind.) Beautiful romantic small interior that features antique mirrors, plates, fixtures, and whimsical lighting. Service was authentic and welcoming from server to Maitre'D. Menu was a bit poetically corny, but creative and interesting with several vegetarian dishes. For the historic area, prices were mid-reasonable. Silverware was wanting heavier choices. We shared plates, which I think the business should consider encouraging. We ordered the equivalent of the number of dishes anyway. Oysters were fresh and pricy, but we could not distinguish any of the described garnishes that sounded too good to be true, and was not tempted to splurge on a $53 upsell of caviar. Oyster Mushrooms with kale and sesame were nice, but the award goes to the tender and rich Conch Salad peppered with breadfruit. Entrees we shared were the Signature rice, Beef sirloin and Pork cheeks. The signature rice was an oblong platter that seemed to be inspired by Middle Eastern flavors. The accompanying green herb vinaigrette was beautifully rendered. Although the rice was seasoned carefully with plump craisins, a smattering of indistinguishable colorful vegetables and a bit of micros and cheese, a $30 tag would seem a bit excessive for a dish that looked eerily similar to Chinese fried rice. Beef sirloin, beautifully cooked Med rare, had cinnamon undertones and was colorful, tender, succulent and savory. Again, great dish with lots of moisture and seasoned accompanying garnishes. The star of the show was the understated braised pork cheeks (where do I find pork cheeks?) with sweet potato gnocchi. Pork was complex but buttery rich and unctuous. The accompanying gnocchi was made of cooked and "riced" sweet potato which can make the tender dumplings a little sticky due to moisture content. The surrounding sauce tied everything together, especially the crispy chiccharon pork skin and walnuts as garnishes. Dessert was a Coconut Tremble that looked like panna cotta. Small but hit the spot for a light textured finish. Service was steady, professional and timely. Interior finishes were customized and lovingly placed from champagne flutes to pressed ceiling tin tiles to restrooms. Was featured in Places to go PR dining Award-Winners.

    Verde Mesa Rice with Sirloin
    DeAn S.

    We came across the lovely restaurant by chance and were amazed by the lovely and very unique decor. The service was incredible, and the food was absolutely incredible. We enjoyed the tomato ceviche for appetizer (forgot to get a photo of that one) then the Verde Mesa Rice with Sirloin added as well as the Pork Cheeks Stew. All the dishes were delicious! We would highly recommend this restaurant if you are in Old San Juan area.

    Jennifer F.

    From the moment we walked in and saw the eclectic, old world decor to the welcoming staff (who seated us immediately) - this dining experience was absolutely delightful! And it's the only farm to table business in San Juan! Our server Kristina was very friendly and knowledgeable of the menu. She was prompt in taking our orders and always had a smile! They offer a wide array of options for herbivores and carnivores alike- no small feat in Old San Juan. My mother in law got the scallops, my father in law got the rib eye, my husband got the pork stew, my kids split the chicken and I got the signature vegan fish with a side of tuna. We were a little disappointed with the serving sizes (relative to cost) but that disappointment was not well founded as each of us was completely sated at the meal's end. All in all, a must stop - with beautiful views of the harbor too! Note: while the staff was very welcoming to my children (who were mostly well behaved) it's not exactly a kid restaurant unless they are adventurous eaters!

    Date cake
    Kevin E.

    Delicious food! The decor is adorable, and the service from Christina was great. Highly recommend the rice and tuna. Good options for vegans and gluten free as well.

    Ribeye Tartare
    Ian S.

    Wow! That was amazing! More than a meal, and experience. The food was an amazing collection of flavors and textures. The space was busy and sparked no end of conversations. Our server was wonderful. A big win all around! Well be back (after all, there are so many things on the menu yet to try!!)

    Cloud dessert, so delicious.

    We ate here 2 years ago for an epic lunch, a group of 5. I left a rave review. Here's another! This time just my husband and I. They do close between 3-5, remember that! The decor and ambiance are so charming! Our server, Christina, was perfect! My husband had the tuna, fresh and spiced perfectly. I had chicken kofta! Drinks are inspired and delicious! The Purple Cloud dessert... dreaming about it for 2 years... so light, the berries so fresh... coffee service delightful! Don't miss this elegant farm to table experience!

    Red potion mocktail
    Nina Z.

    Just WOW! The decor in this place was incredible- very romantic too. I loved the food. The menu is very creative; it's different than what I would usually eat, which was so refreshing. The service was top notch, can't wait to go back.

    Espresso
    Hannah C.

    This was our last meal in San Juan. Everything was good!! Some favorites: Appetizers: tartare, tomato salad, oysters were meatyyy Entree: fried rice and ribeye We ordered all 3 desserts and demolished those :)

    Decor
    robin l.

    Sooooo good! Great food, excellent service and eclectic decor. Love the ambience. We highly recommend.

    Tomato Salad
    Aleksandra K.

    I accidentally stumbled upon this restaurant while looking for a Puerto Rican restaurant in Old San Juan. Entering into the restaurant, the decor is very warm and comforting with eclectic mason jar lights with cherubs hanging from the ceiling to the variety of mirrors on the walls. The restaurant is female run and locally owned with a mission. They serve unlimited filtered still and sparkling water to start. Their cocktail selection is very floral/herbal and the staff are very helpful with recommendations for food or drink. We had the tomato salad which was delicious. The lamb raviolis were aptly described by the waiter as "a warm hug". The mains were a mahi mahi in cabbage stew and the kabobs and rice were delicious. The chicken of the kebabs was one of the more flavorful chicken dishes I've had to date. The panna cotta with passion fruit was refreshing. The chef works with local micro farmers throughout the island to locally source the freshest ingredients. Definitely a must try when visiting PR.

    Duck breast in cocoa demi glaze
    Alison L.

    Very kind service albeit slightly slow because they were busy. The resistant is in a historic building and is decorated beautifully. The food was good and I appreciate that it is farm to table with a menu that changes daily. However, the flavor was lacking in complexity. I have had much better food at the same price point. I paid $64 for the duck in a cocoa demi glaze, but the duck was tough and tendinous and lacked enough demi glaze. We also tried the scallops, which were good but not worth the price. Their house rice dish was delicious and packed with flavor. I'd recommend getting that and avoiding the more expensive dishes, as they are not as tasty nor worth the price. The purple cloud dessert was made of whipped cream with berry compote with meringue bits inside. It was tasty, fresh, and clearly homemade.

    Rice added chicken sausage

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    4 months ago

    Pretentious and over priced. Scallops were chilly and raw and a can of local beer is $11. Signature rice was good.

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    3 months ago

    Signature dish was incredible. Unique ambiance. Service was great. Loved everything about this restaurant.

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    5 months ago

    Really welcoming staff. Good choices for vegetarians. Ceviche m, mushroom appetizer and the rice dishes were delicious.

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    5 months ago

    Food was incredible. Service was not. I would come back but hope for much better service.

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    8 months ago

    The food was exceptional! Don and Steven provided great service and recommendations. Beautiful spot in old town

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    La Garita - Garlic shrimp and octopus mofongo

    La Garita

    4.3(241 reviews)
    0.6 km
    $$

    La Garita is set back in the heart of old San Joan. I'd suggest parking in the garage or on the…read morestreet and not driving down in the neighborhood of La Garita because the roads are extremely narrow. Upon entering the restaurant we got seated immediately. We sat outside on the patio because the view is phenomenal. It took awhile for the waitress to come out and take our order. Maybe because we were hungry. Honestly though, I feel it was enough time to look over the menu and make the right decision as to what to order. The environment is so calm with the sound of the waves and the breeze coming through the open windows. It might be too much for some ( like my cousin ) but I love it. So our food came along in a decent amount of time. Our drinks first. We both got Passion fruit juice. 10 OUT OF 10 . I got the grouper with rice and beans. 10 out of 10 AGAIN (This place can't miss) the different flavors bursting on my pallet is just what I like. All the different sautéed vegetables in the top of the fish was a great call and super necessary. My cousin for the lobster mofongo. It had soooooooooooo much lobster in it. OMG and seasoned very well. That's not really my thing but it had seafood and looked so good and was dripping with the sauce I couldn't resist. The fried fish were had for an appetizer was seasoned and fried to perfection. I highly recommend this place. Is my fourth time here. I don't have PR without coming here.

    Worst wait staff I have ever met honestly…read more We arrived at 5:18 and waited 90 minutes to get the food. It was insane!! Juice order had to be taken twice since they forgot. If it was exceptional food, it is one thing but this is below average at best. #WORST

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    La Garita
    La Garita
    La Garita - Mojito

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    Mojito

    Sanse 152 - Table view

    Sanse 152

    4.0(82 reviews)
    0.4 km
    $$

    It is right in the middle of San Sebastian street which also happens to be the heart of nightlife…read morein Viejo (Old) San Juan. this whole street is live, buzzing till midnight and sometimes till 2 AM. so if you wanna get the vibe/ feel of nightlife, come to this street (Calle in Spanish) here. We entered, every server was busy, we saw one empty high table, settled ourselves and ordered fish tacos, Chicken Empanadillas, and a couple of drinks (Mojito & beer). Fish tacos were really good, the best we had in the old San Juan area. we were there for 50 odd minutes and went to another bar. the ambiance was good but can't say the same about service but as I said above- this is the scene in every other bar in that street. so this is normal there. also, happy hour is from 3 to 8 (like other bars) one thing to keep in mind- whatever the restaurant/bar/pub you visit in this area - your food order gonna take time, as these all are mostly there for drinks, of course, food items are there in the menu, but it's gonna more then usual time, so if you are hungry, try other restaurants. Bar-restaurant in San Sebastian street- these are good for a couple of drinks & bar hopping. Note: To enter, they are asking for CDC Card (for vaccine check). You can also show a digital copy/Photo of it.

    LOVE THIS PLACE! Our server whose name I cannot for the life…read moreof me remember was wonderful, and the doorman was adorable. Amazing FISH TACOS! Flavorful AF and even tastier with the hot sauce, so definitely get the hot sauce. They have happy hour from 3 to 8 - got tasty Mojitos and Pina Coladas. Also tried their little shots of frozen slushies for a $1 each - really liked the tamarind one. Also, I highly recommend and would double down on the Paellitas. If you've had Paella in Spain, these Paellitas are the mini-version-don't-wanna-share as they are smaller in portion. However, it was well seasoned and the 3 pieces of shrimp on top were fat and plump (just how I like my shrimp!). Sit by the front and you can also people watch to your heart's content. That's what we did and we ended up making friends with randos that stopped by.

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    Sanse 152 - Wall of fun

    Wall of fun

    Sanse 152 - Refreshing piña colada

    Refreshing piña colada

    Sanse 152

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    Café El Punto - Empanadas were tasty!!

    Café El Punto

    4.3(539 reviews)
    0.1 km
    $$

    They didn't have everything available on the menu but we came at a time before dinner and after…read morelunch. The passion fruit mojito was the best I have had. Had fresh fruit as you could see the seeds grinder, the mint so good and soooo worth it. The cafe con leche...as a coffee snob was AMAZING. Dark bitter chocolate notes with espresso taste and so very good. We had fried fish and kids menu with steak and everything top tier. Very impressed compared to anything else on the island. I Loved every part. If you like spicy ask for the salsa and it's a very good habanero tasting good on everything flavor. The service was good. They don't bother you but check in after every 15 minutes. Don't sleep on the atmosphere. It was amazing.

    I enjoyed my food here, but wasn't a 5 star because of the price…read more.. I heard many great things about this place, so I decided to visit with my friends. We stopped by for early dinner. Since we got here early around 6pm, the wait wasn't too long. I opted for the STUFFED AVOCADO WITH STEAK & CHILEAN SALAD It was everything I expected. The steak was well cooked. The avocado was very good. Both the avocado & steak added to make the meal very filling. The Chilean Salad had a good amount of cilantro & tomato. It helped balance out the meal. The rice & beans was a good compliment to it all. Everything tasted good, but I didn't expect to pay over $30 for this simple meal.

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    Café El Punto
    Café El Punto - Ceviche was fresh & delicious!!

    Ceviche was fresh & delicious!!

    Café El Punto - Tostones are my fav!!

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    Tostones are my fav!!

    El Jibarito

    El Jibarito

    3.9(2k reviews)
    0.4 km
    $$

    The restaurant has the ambiance of a small town PR restaurant that you would find tucked away in…read morethe country roads of the island, with the long shared tables and the decorations. The wait was usual for Old San Juan. About 30-45mins. They take your name down and call you when there's a table ready. What they don't tell you is that the menu is a QR code on the table. Once you figure that you see a well organized and simple 2 pages menu with many PR authentic dishes listed. The waiter comes about 10-15mins later. And it's best to have all your order ready as they don't come back very often. The place is usually packed all the hours that they're open. Food: that's why they lost a star. Rice and beans, Madurai/amarrillos, scurrilous, delicious 5 stars, but the bigger, empanada, chicken with garlic lack the bite that you come to expect of PR food! They lack taste, "Sazon", they were bland and tasted more like someone forgot to season them and forgot the garlic. I'd tell them to go back to their food and make PR food like it's supposed to taste, not for the tourist, please!

    First time visiting El Jibarito! What an amazing experience, delicious homemade food with lovely…read morestaff members. Even the locals come here of how good it is. You get tons of food for the price and would definitely come here again hands down. Feels like my fam is cooking back there in the kitchen haha. Highly recommend!

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    El Jibarito
    El Jibarito - Red snapper

    Red snapper

    El Jibarito - Condiments

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    Condiments

    Verde Mesa - seafood - Updated June 2026

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