Miguel Gierbolini

Hmmmm. I think renovations are complete and the beach area is still there, unchanged. There are several new restaurants including a Morton's and Madrid, San Juan, a Spanish place which seems to be one of San Juan's happening places but I have not visited it yet.

Funny, although I often make them for my wife, I never liked fried or poached eggs.

I went to the Jules Verne on February 2001. I did not notice any dress code. Because it was a cold day, most people, as I was, were wearing sweaters. Nothing formal. It was a fun place to go.

Thanks Damian. Did you like any of the sushi restaurants in San Juan? Today, after ignoring it for many months, I went back to Yukiyu at the Banco Popular building in Hato Rey. I became disenchanted with the place because, of all things, the rice in their sushi and rolls was abysmal. As I remember, it was too mushy, cooked with too much water. Today, I went there with a friend who recently returned to Puerto Rico. She wanted to eat sushi and being the only such place in the area, we headed there. The place had undergone some renovations. Different waiters and a new sushi guy but same bad rice. We ordered a few pieces of tuna and salmon sushi and four rolls. The rice was almost inedible. Undercooked, and perhaps I am being a bit picky, served too cold. The fish, with the exception of the salmon which was pretty good, was nondescript. The service was oversolicitous bordering on pushy. We were offered the non-sushi appetizers (some soups and shrimp dumplings) three times. Worse of all, the prices are 20 to 30 percent higher than other sushi places. Not all sushi places in Puerto Rico are like this. My favorite is still Yamato at the El San Juan hotel in Isla Verde.

Yes. Tom writes for the Washington Post. Robert is a restaurant reviewer for The Village Voice. I think that Tom explained in his column that they are distant relatives.

J, thanks for the post. Pretty funny. I don't think Sietsema minded the food terribly. He just did not like the concept, the prices, some of the absurd diners and the staff. Petty stuff.

Damian, having been here only two years (where did I learn this?), you did get around a lot. Amadeus opened a new branch near your old haunt right on Chardon Street in the corner of Cesar Gonzalez in a new tower built by the Fonalledas. I have not been there but I am told it is frequented by the local glitterati. El Pescador at La Plaza del Mercado in Santurce is indeed pretty good. Tiny and I don't think they take reservations, so for lunch you have to get there before noon. Other panaderias like España, are La Ceiba in Roosevelt Avenue and La Esmeralda in Avenida Esmeralda in Guaynabo. Antiguo Bilbao near La Ceiba is also pretty good. Hey, I think Bob came and went already.

Is today the Marathon in Vancouver? Good luck to Mrs. Fat Guy.

These are both excellent posts. Although I have never thought of the Florida panhandle as a destination, it is now a possibility. Charleston has always been in my "to do" list. But I don't think it was because of the food. I think it was because one of Pat Conroy's books, The Lords of Discipline? Anyhow, thanks for the wonderful reports. I wonder, however, why this post has been viewed approximately only one-third of the times than the Charleston post. I dont think that the time elapsed since the original post explains the marked difference. Their loss. As a former marathon runner (this sounds more than what it was-I only ran in two marathons), I also wonder how Mrs. Fat-Guy is sticking to her training with so much driving and eating.

Ok. The lurker delurks. I was waiting for Damian to respond to this but Tommy might get here before then. Top places: Compostela in Avenida Condado, Baru, Il Perugino and Dragonfly in Old San Juan. Chayote and Augusto's in Miramar. Ramiro's in Condado. I like Yamato in El San Juan hotel in Isla Verde, but I guess you are not coming here from New York City's metropolitan area to eat sushi. Pizza: Danny's International Pizza in Condado owned by Argentinians offers one of the nicest, if a bit heavy, pies around. Juan Pan in Avenida Central or Piñeiro as it is also known, has very nice pizza and beef empanadas. La Cueva del Chicken Inn has perhaps the best pizza in the Island. Owned by the late Raul Julia's family, it is located in Ponce de Leon avenue between Hato Rey and Rio Piedras. My favorite mofongo is El Guateque located in the road to Cupey. Both La Cueva and El Guateque have pretty good local fare. For pollo asado (roasted chicken), I like Fuentes Barbecue in Guaynabo. You have to tell a cab driver to take you there, it is not easy to explain how to get there. As Bux mentioned elsewhere sometime ago, the Piñones area is great for local frituras--alcapurrias, bacalaitos (cod fritters)-- and various seafood in escabeche like conch (carrucho), octopus and others. You'll also see a lot of chillo frito (fried red snapper). and if you see them, by all means order the Pastelillos de Chapín (Chapín is a fish, I don't know its name in English). There is similar stuff at the kiosks in Luquillo. Luquillo is located around 40-50 minutes east of San Juan. The Guavate area is the Island's most renowned place for lechón asado (roasted pig). Guavate is 45 minutes south of San Juan. The area is full of lechoneras. On Sundays it is hopping with locals. Pretty darn good morcillas (blood sausages) and longaniza. Pamela's in Ocean Park is a very good upscale place. Kasalta, also in Ocean Park is a very popular "bakery" with all sorts of sandwiches and many, many other items. Try their "quesitos". My wife thinks they are the best in the Island. If you have specific questions, don't hesitate to ask.

Thanks for an excellent post. For a while now, Luger has been on my "to do" list when I next visit New York. You have made a lunch visit a must. Can you give subway directions from Manhattan? Or is it best just to hail a cab?

I think I have never gone to La Tasca because there is no parking. Plus, I never hear anyone talking about the place. I might try it one of these days though since it is within walking distance from my residence. If you guys plan to come back, do let me know so that I can provide some current restaurant recommendations.

Rachel, I think that the restaurant you are referring to is called La Tasca. It is located right before the entrance to the Caribe Hilton. I have not been there but it is one of those places that has been operating in the same locale for what seems like an eternity. For Lila, if she reappears :D , this is located west from her hotel towards Old San Juan after the Condado bridge.

In Condado, on the inexpensive side, there is Danny's International Pizza and Via Appia. Danny's serves a very nice pie. The owners are Argentinian and their pizza is very heavy and thick, there are many combinations. I usually have a blue cheese, jalapeño, pepperoni combination but there are many, many possibilities. There is other stuff in the menu but the pizza is reputed to be one of the best in San Juan. Via Appia is the classic San Juan pizza joint. Good stuff. Waiters have been there for many years. Nice place. Thinner pizza. Both places are in Ashford Avenue, west of where you are. A little bit further down is La Patisserie and further stilll are Kasalta a nice and very popular sandwich/bakery place and Dunbar's a very trendy place with nice food. There are some more expensive places east of where you are. In Ashford, beyond the Marriott there is Hermes which has a very good reputation and, probably one of the best restaurant's in Puerto Rico, Ramiro's on Magdalena street (parallel to Ashford). Further east on Ashford there is Great Taste, reputed to be the most authentic Chinese in the Island (large chinese clientele), I go there quite often for Dim Sum. Do not miss Old San Juan (a 10 minute taxi ride). Baru on San Sebastian Street and Dragonfly on Fortaleza Street are special places. Other excellent places elsewhere but not far are Chayote, Pikayo and Augusto's. Let me know if you need additional information.

Damian, thanks for the correction. Judge Gilberto Gierbolini is my father's cousin. Did you clerk for him?

Not to be picky, but the name of the rum is "Ron del Barrilito." It has a top-notch reputation. I think that the most popular rum in Puerto Rico is Don Q Crystal. Purists seem to prefer Don Q Oro (Gold). If you have not tried either you should have your friend pick a bottle of each. (about ů or Ű each) Most people here won't go near Bacardi or Captain Morgan's.

In San Juan, my favorites are Hotel San Juan and the Ritz Carlton. Both are in Isla Verde which technically is Carolina. In my opinion, the better restaurants are in San Juan so staying in either of those would place you closer to them than, say The Westin Rio Mar (in Rio Grande, 45 minutes from San Juan) or El Conquistador (in Fajardo like an hour or so away). For my money, if you prefer a resort, go to the Dorado Beach Hyatt (in Dorado, 30-40 minutes from San Juan). By the way, Roosevelt Roads is in Ceiba, of these places the closest to it is El Conquistador.