Sietsema wrote: >Try Casa Adela on Ave C near 5th St. It, too, is excellent. I agree with the recommendation about Casa Adela, having just discovered it a few weekends ago. Casa Adela's exact location: 66 Avenue C, near East 5th Street, 212 473-1882; open seven days 7:30am to 8:00pm. A specific reason to go to Casa Adela is that they _always_ have pasteles on the menu, rather than only occasionally as at La Taza de Oro. >most of the cooking (even on the island) is done in the home. It is >one of those countries (note my political bias here) that doesn't have much of >a restaurant tradition. I would not see your comment as showing any political bias. In fact, it is a truism, and from what I have seen reflects well on the society. PR is in general a very family oriented place. Despite having an average household income even lower than any of the fifty US states, seeing homeless people is very unusual, even in the capital. Entertaining and social life is largely home-based in PR. Many or most restaurants (other than standard issue N. American fast food places) are primarily for visitors, not residents. Therefore only very unpretentious places which serve local cuisine are genuinely satisfying dining experiences there. Bebo's Cafe on Calle Loiza, Santurce, is one such example. 787 268-5087, 1600 Calle Loiza; open twenty four hours, 7 days a week. Original poster Sietsema's "Down the Hatch" restaurant review zine has mentioned such restaurants from time to time. >The national dish is undoubtedly asopao, a wonderful rice and seafood (or >chicken) stew sharpened with vinegar and cilantro. >You won't find it on any restaurant menu serving Puerto Rican food. Fortunately, the new (about a year old ) Old San Juan Restaurant, 765 Ninth Avenue (51st Street) 212 262-6761 does serve asopao. I did not mention it specifically as a Puerto Rican restaurant because it is in fact a combination Argentinian and Puerto Rican place. Their rendition of asopao is quite good.
Puerto Rico