Monday, September 7, 2009

Where not to eat while in Old San Juan, PR

On recent blogs I’ve been letting you know about one of my favorite restaurants in Old San Juan, Raices. Now I am going to let you now were not to eat while in Old San Juan.

During a recent visit I had the opportunity to eat at Marisqueria Atlantica (Atlantic Seafood) #7 Calle Lugo Vinas, Puerta de Tierra, Old San Juan. The restaurant has been in this location longer than I can remember, however, this was my first visit. Marisqueria Atlantica has an old style “steakhouse” feel to it, but it is a seafood restaurant. The waiting staff is all male, which in this day and age it’s inconceivable; I don’t care what asinine law or statute the Puerto Rican government has created to exempt this establishment from not observing EEOC rules.

We ordered oysters, paella, fish and steak; yes someone ordered steak at a seafood restaurant, but that’s another blog. The oysters were not fresh, the cocktail sauce was bitter, and the Tabasco sauce was vinegary. In reality you can get better oysters from a cart on the side of the road in Boqueron, PR. The paella had good flavor, but it was mostly rice and no seafood, and the rice was under cooked. I can’t tell you were to get good paella in PR, but Miami has several places that you can get paella at a much reasonable price. The fish was good and fresh; the steak, well I don’t think my dogs would have eaten it. So overall the service, which was awful, and the food quality do not justify the price range of most dishes. When visiting PR and craving seafood, take a drive to where the fresh seafood is, places like Cabo Rojo, Aguadilla, Salinas, Ponce, Fajardo, and stay away of Marisqueria Atlantica.

However, if a friend insists on taking you there, take the ride and once you are there walk to El Hamburger, which is another local institution, you will enjoy it.

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