Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Verde Mesa

    4.5 (55 reviews)
    Closed 11:45 am - 4:00 pm, 5:30 PM - 10:00 PM

    Verde Mesa Photos

    VERDE MESA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - Verde Mesa

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos - Verde Mesa

    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!

    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!!)

    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.

    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.

    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!

    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.

    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.

    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.

    Rice added chicken sausage

    See all

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Carlos M.
    253
    132
    65

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Ben S.
    33
    4
    1

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Outstanding restaurant, very nice ambiance, great service, and phenomenal food. Thoroughly enjoyable.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Unique food choices, great decor and ambience, attentive service. They even have tea which is unusual for Puerto Rico.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Chip B.
    355
    2
    0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1
    Photo of J R.
    0
    7
    0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    Page 2 of 2

    Verde Mesa Reviews in Other Languages

    You might also consider

    Verify this business for free

    People searched for Seafood 734 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

    Verify this business

    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.

    Photos
    Sanse 152 - Wall of fun

    Wall of fun

    Sanse 152 - Refreshing piña colada

    Refreshing piña colada

    Sanse 152

    See all

    Café El Punto - Empanadas were tasty!!

    Café El Punto

    4.3(542 reviews)
    0.1 km
    $$

    Amazing service for such a large group last minute. Food…read moreand drinks were out of this world. The skirt steak was some of the best steak I've ever had especially for the price. Grouper was so refreshing and creole sauce was phenomenal. Such a cute restaurant with amazing art anf cut little homemade crafts to buy at the entrance if you'd like!

    We ate at Café El Punto, and what a cute restaurant! As you walk in, the center of the building is…read moreopen to the ceiling, giving it a bright, airy feel. There are enclosed, air-conditioned dining rooms on either side, which was a welcome relief from the Puerto Rico heat. From the moment you walk in, the atmosphere is warm and inviting. The restaurant is beautifully decorated, and it just has a great vibe. I ordered the stuffed avocado with shrimp. I had seen stuffed avocados on several menus during our trip, so I'm glad I finally tried one. It was delicious and something I can't easily find back home. Everyone else in our group enjoyed their meals as well. One thing to note is that the restrooms are located through another doorway that leads outside to an enclosed bathroom area. It was extremely hot out there, so just be prepared. There was only one other party dining in our room, which made for a cozy and relaxing atmosphere. The service was very good, and overall we had a wonderful experience. When you enter the restaurant, you walk through a shopping area of handmade items beautiful items so take the time to shop either on the way in or the way out I would definitely recommend Café El Punto if you're visiting Old San Juan.

    Photos
    Café El Punto - One of the dinning areas

    One of the dinning areas

    Café El Punto - Ceviche was fresh & delicious!!

    Ceviche was fresh & delicious!!

    Café El Punto - Tostones are my fav!!

    See all

    Tostones are my fav!!

    Deaverdura - Sampler

    Deaverdura

    4.2(1.2k reviews)
    0.3 km
    $$

    This restaurant has been on my San Juan list and it happened to be near my Airbnb so it was a no…read morebrainer for my friends and I to visit. Since I've always seen the long lines outside this store when I passed by, we decided that we try to go in as soon as it opened. So, we lined up around 11:30am. We barely waited much and we got seated. The server that day was quick/efficient/friendly despite the fact that she was running a one woman show. And the food arrived within a decent time. My friends and I decided to order the PUERTO RICAN PLATTER with a side of a side salad. This platter comes with everything you could want & maybe something that might be a bit adventurous for you to eat like blood sausage. Despite that, it's a nice platter to share and try a bit of everything. It's really nice that if you order for 4 people, they give you exactly the amount of pieces that are divisible by 4 (so everyone can try 1-2 pieces of each thing evenly). It also comes with a decent amount of rice/pork as a supplementation, which was nice. It's a balanced meal. And I think the side salad did well to balance out all the fried foods. Overall, we really enjoyed this place. It's a great place to come with friends/families to share. It's a great place as a visitor to try a bit of everything. The platter is a great introduction of puerto rican fried finger foods. And it all taste great! From the presentation of the food to the service here, it's all good. I would recommend this place to others.

    We were in old San Juan and wanted some authentic Puerto Rican food. I found this spot on Yelp and…read morewas surprised to know this was a TikTok favorite. The restaurant is medium sized, so for the sake of space they make you wait outside for a table. Our group of 7 was seated pretty easily but it also wasn't too packed when we arrived. Their menu is written on a chalkboard and from my knowledge, they don't provide any physical copies. My table got a variety of things but me in particular, I ordered the Puerto Rican sampler. We split it between 3 people and they said it could feed 4 but hmmm, I'd be skeptical of that. I think no more than 2 comfortably honestly as a meal. The sampler was delicious though and had all the main things I wanted. The corn fritters were a hit and the steak was well cooked and seasoned. While the food was good, the wait was a little long and the service was mid (not bad but not the best we've had). Solid 4 stars

    Photos
    Deaverdura - The ambience

    The ambience

    Deaverdura - Small house salad

    Small house salad

    Deaverdura - Passion fruit juice

    See all

    Passion fruit juice

    El Jibarito - Flan de coco and flan de chocolate

    El Jibarito

    3.9(2k reviews)
    0.4 km
    $$

    El Jibarito is absolutely worth the visit if you're looking for authentic Puerto Rican food. We had…read morethe lechón con salsa de plátano, and it was absolutely delicious--full of flavor and cooked perfectly! We were a large group, so there was about a 30-minute wait for a table, but that's part of the fonda-style experience. Tables turn over as people finish their meals, and while you're waiting, you can relax with an ice-cold Medalla, which makes the time go by quickly. A special thank you to the staff for the excellent service and warm hospitality. The food, the atmosphere, and the friendly staff made this one of our favorite dining experiences in Old San Juan. We will definitely be back!

    We came to El Jibarito for dinner after it was recommended by Yelp as it had a 4-star rating. We…read moredid have a bit of a wait, but it was worth it. The restaurant is absolutely adorable inside and has a warm, welcoming atmosphere. Once we were seated, the service was quick and attentive. There were four of us in our party, and we started with the pizza turnovers. They were delicious, although I do wish they had a little more filling. I ordered the tamale. While it wasn't quite to my personal taste, I could tell it was well made and I'm sure others who enjoy that style of tamale would love it. My husband had the baked chicken and really liked it. My friend ordered the salmon and said it was moist and very flavorful, and her husband had the garlic chicken, which he thoroughly enjoyed. Overall, everyone in our group was happy with their meals. Between the cozy atmosphere, friendly service, and tasty food, I would definitely recommend this restaurant if you're visiting Old San Juan.

    Photos
    El Jibarito
    El Jibarito - Fried snapper

    Fried snapper

    El Jibarito

    See all

    Verde Mesa - seafood - Updated July 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...