San Juan Restaurant and Babysitting Questions

[Anonymous]

1. Can anyone recommend some good restaurants in San Juan? They don't have to be $$$ (although that is fine too) - our main issue is that we don't like seafood or Puerto Rican food. Every time we go we end up doing the steakhouse chain circuit (Morton's, Ruth's Chris, BLT Steak). Any other options? We are staying in Condado at the Marriott. If there is somewhere we could get a traditional Christmas dinner that would be amazing!

2. Can anyone recommend a babysitter or babysitting service besides Nannies on Call? Thank you!

[Anonymous]

I was going to respond until I read this-

our main issue is that we don't like seafood or Puerto Rican food

Maybe you should keep your travel US based. Traditional Christmas dinner in Puerto Rico is going to equate to Puerto Rican food (Pernil, rice with pigeon peas, plantains, etc.).

[Anonymous]

I meant a traditional American dinner. For the record, it's not me that has the food limitations, so I understand your point, but it is what it is.

[Anonymous]

Marmalade http://www.marmaladepr.com/pdf/alacarte.pdf

[Anonymous]

Op where do you live? Maybe I can recommend a babysitter. What day and time?

[Anonymous]

We went to Marmalade without kids and loved it. But it does have interesting food and I'm not sure that someone with pickiness issues would love it. We also had a great meal at the BLt steak in the Ritz, but it sounds like OP wants to stay away from that. Not sure what would fit the bill.

[Anonymous]

Ha. Hope someone offers a good recommendation. We'll be at the Renaissance in SJ for Christmas. But I don't recall there being a BLT steakhouse at the Ritz when we were there 2 years ago. May check that out.

[Anonymous]

There are plenty of other types of cuisine in San Juan; it's fairly easy to stay away from Puerto Rican food, or do you want to stick with American food? In Old San Juan, you may want to try Al Dente or Il Perugino (Italian, obviously), Trois Cent Onze (French, obviously), Carli's (international). Augusto's in the Miramar neighborhood, just south of Condado, is also good international food. In Condado, there's a new restaurant at the Vanderbilt, 1919 (international/fusion), which is also supposed to be good, and St. Moritz (Swiss/German) at the Regency Hotel.

There are also good Asian or Asian fusion restaurants, and Middle Eastern places (especially in the business district).

I don't think that it's worth looking for a traditional American Christmas dinner, however you define that, other than in the American chain-type places that you've already mentioned.

[Anonymous]

Wow 19:57, thank you for all of the recommendations! We are not just limited to American food, just wanted to stay away from Puerto Rican food. I am going to look at all of those suggestions.

[Anonymous]

There's a fabulous tapas restaurant at el convento in old San Juan.

[Anonymous]

My 6 yr old wants to know if there are any good chicken tenders and fries in PR.? (he gets to choose the restaurant one night--hopefully not Wendy's). We're staying at the Renaissance.

[Anonymous]

I checked out BLT Steak and they have 0 availability from Dec 15 til 2014. So sad!

[Anonymous]

Two questions:

1) What is it that you don't like about Puerto Rican food and why travel to PR so often when you don't like the food? I'm not trying to be hostile but I am just genuinely perplexed about it all.

2) What do you define as a traditional American Christmas dinner? I am Puerto Rican and will be happily eating pork, pasteles, rice and pigeon peas, et al, for Christmas. But when I read your post it struck me that I didn't know what was meant with that reference.

Anyway, in the spirit of Christmas and being helpful -- El Patio de Sam in Old San Juan serves American food. I also heard there was an Indian restaurant opening in Old San Juan. You can certainly find a variety of food there.

For your Christmas dinner, I would check with the hotel restaurants to see what they are serving. That would be your best bet, IMO. Unfortunately, your limitations make it hard for me to give recommendations. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

I love Metropole. Cuban/puerto rican food...but they do have basic cuts of meat, garlic shrimp, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My 6 yr old wants to know if there are any good chicken tenders and fries in PR.? (he gets to choose the restaurant one night--hopefully not Wendy's). We're staying at the Renaissance.

Any chicken tenders and fries recommendations?