Best place to eat in Puerto Rico

Posted by nicop51 from Los Angeles CA on 4/29/08

The food is just incredible service was great had a great time in this place. I will compare this to he best restaurants any where in the world and the service is even better.

Group sorely disappointed

Posted by MadamePrez from Chicago on 3/10/08

I was one of a group of 12 that recently (Feb 08) went to Ajili-Mojili for dinner. Each of us were from different parts of the US and this place had come highly recommended. Two of us had previously dined here with no problems. What a difference time makes. The service was terrible. After 20 minutes we placed drink orders. After 30 our appetizer order was placed. We were done with these before our entree orders were taken. After waiting 1.5 hours for the food to come, we wondered why we hadn't seen our waiter. Apparently a larger group on the second floor took precedence. Not only was our waiter pulled in to service that group but the Manager as well which explains why they never came to our table when requested. They promised the food in another 30 minutes which would have been a 2-hour wait and at that point wasn't worth it. This place has had a serious decline in service over the last two years. The drinks were also watered down. What a shame.

Very Very Disappointed!

Posted by mcruz from New York on 2/27/08

I was so disappointed at the service and the food at this restaurant. I was told there was a wait and waited 30 minutes. When we were seated the room we were placed in was half empty and only two parties left while I was waiting. I should have known better than to stay when I first walked in a customer was screaming about how he waited an hour for his food and that the service was poor! He was yelling at the manager and the manager zeroed out his bill! It is overpriced and overated. The food was OK, but the portions were small for the price. To make matters worse, they mixed "pegao" with my rice ... could not believe it! You'll have better luck in Orozco's and Latin Star on Ashford Avenue in Condado.

Awful tourist trap

Posted by Tajarla from Great Barrington MA on 2/15/08

My wife and I were in San Juan for one week. Unfortunately both of us were under the weather for the entire week. We managed to feel well enough to go out to dinner for one nice meal(or so we thought). The concierge at the hotel directed us Ajili Mjili. We arrived to a place that resembled a Bennigans or TGIF. We were greeted and walked to our crappy booth with vinyl covered seats, upon sitting we became aware of just how tacky and bad this place was. It is truly on the level of Friendly's but just to add to the terrible environment it was filled with loud drunk Americans and, I kid you not, a Marilyn Monroe impersonator(?). We had traveled there by Taxi so we were committed to staying. If I had known how bad my Lobster Mofongo was going to be I would have walked back to the Hotel and had a grilled cheese. The drinks were watered down and tasteless, the service was disingenuous and slow. The bill was extremely large for the quality of the food. I had to literally walk to the host station and give my credit card to the host because our waiter had been gone for so long. We were also given attitude for walking to the host station to pay. This place is as authentic Puerto Rican restaurant as an "Olive Garden" is an authentic Italian restaurant. Just plain terrible. Go elsewhere there are some outstanding restaurants in Old San Juan.

The Best Mofongo!

Posted by UKFoodie from Dorset, England on 1/12/08

We wanted to taste and experience real Puerto Rican food and were recommended by 3 individual Puerto Ricans to try this restaurant. The Food was delicious and the waiter was welcoming and informative, answering all our questions about the dishes in detail and making helpful suggestions. We would go back (We'd love to try their Tapas night or Sunday Buffet) We were lucky to get a table - it was very busy with mainly local diners (December 22nd)- our advice - book ahead.

Great !!

Posted by Roger_gossette from seattle on 12/6/07

On my last trip to Puerto Rico , I asked my hotel concierge where I could eat tipical Puerto Rican food and this restaurant was recommended. I had visited other restaurants in the San Juan Area which supposely served tipical food , but nothing like this restaurant. Everyone has their own opinion , but I found this restaurant great in food , service and prices were not that high. The ambiance was great, a beautiful plantation style home with great views of a lagoon and beach . I went 3 times in a row the week I was in PR. Highly recommend it !!!!!Seat

OVER RATED

Posted by AR2802 from NEW YORK CITY on 11/1/07

STAY AWAY THIS RESTAURANT IS NOTHING BUT A TOURIST TRAP. YOU HAVE BETTER RESTAURANTS IN THE SURROUNDING AREA, LA DORADA, ROPA VIEJA AND OROSCO'S.

There's much better out there!

Posted by jam22 from NYC on 8/7/07

The place, sites, sounds and service kept me asking why it was so highly rated. The apps were good, the shrimp mofongo was ok, we tried to order three other dishes on a Saturday night and they were out of the Lobster mofongo, mahi-mahi, and i forget the third. We ate our appies and went off to another place...

Fodor's what are you thinking?

Posted by BobandAngel from Jersey City on 4/26/07

This place was ridiculous. My partner and I showed up on a Sunday evening at 8 or so to celebrate my birthday. The place wasn't even close to full but they were basically out of every seafood dish (on an island??). And the prices! The mofongo w/ lobster was an insane $37 dollars- you can get a decent meal in Manhattan for a third that price. The decor reminded me of an Outback steakhouse or other chain restaurant. Needless to say, we didn't even bother to taste the food- we got right up from our seats and headed out. But before entering we had talked to a couple of other out-of-towners who said the food was mediocre at best, so we had an idea of what to expect. Tourist trap taken to a whole new level. Fodor's shame on you!

This is Puerto Rico

Posted by beachview23 from Philadelphia on 4/7/07

Service could improve however this food is worth the trip. Upper level dining. March 2007

Visited this restaurant every year I come to PR It's great

Posted by larianna from Orlando florida on 11/19/06

The restaurant is situated in the heart of SAN Juan . The only restaurant in PR that is situated in the most beautiful property , a 19th century Hacienda like home .Food is great. No tourist trap !!!

Great Food, if a bit pricey

Posted by Becca from NJ on 7/5/06

I thought that all the food here was delicious. I had the shrimp mofongo, and it was AMAZING. My dad had some kind of steak and said it might have been the best he had ever had. I know that it was a bit expensive, but it was definitely worth it. Oh... and the guava cheesecake for dessert was great too!

Over rated

Posted by Rosey from New Jersey on 6/5/06

Nice atmosphere but your paying for the location. The Skirt steak was good, the rice and beans were average I expected something a little more gourmet for the price. The stuffed plantains were hard as a rock.

Must be a different Ajili Mójili because we loved it!

Posted by Dave from San Francisco on 1/2/06

We had lunch and would have come back for dinner but they where closed New Year's Eve. It was our first experience with Puerto Rican food and we really liked the spices (flavorful but not hot). I had the Shrimp Monfongo (mashed plantain), rice and beans. My wife had the traditional Christmas combination which included pork in a sauce, a dish made with mashed Yuca, pork, chicken, and raisins similar to a Mexican Tamale in appearance but not in taste, and a rice and beans dish made with Gandules beans (looked like a lentil bean). My wife also had a Sangria and I had a Mango Bojito. Both were delicious and potent. The decor is colonial with columns and arches in white. Sitting in the main room is almost like sitting outside with the potted plants and the sky lights. We sat at a table overlooking the Condado Lagoon and the view was lovely. You could say it had the look of a theme restaurant if it wasn't in Puerto Rico, but it certainly looked like much of the buildings with in old San Juan. The meal is leisurely and very much in the style of European dining. The waiter strolls by and waits for you to make eye contact to indicate help. You don't get a bill until you ask for it. If the waiter is across the room, make eye contact and hold your left hand up flat and with your right hand make like you are writing on your palm. I did this got a nod and the bill came right away. We spent about $50 plus tip for the meal and I think it was well worth it. I rated the restaurant a 4 on value because some people may find it too expensive. Bottom line - if you have time (figure an hour to hour and 1/2 if it isn't crowded) and can afford it, I think you'll love it. If you're on a budget or time is an issue then don't go.