Restaurants

Barrachina stakes its claim as the birthplace of the Pina Colada, and there’s a really good chance that’s true. That iconic drink of a tropical vacation was definitely first concocted SOMEwhere in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and the mixologist who invented it did indeed work at Barrachina. Close enough to sound legit, so my friends and I were happy to check out this restaurant. In fact, we went twice; this means something, considering that we wanted to sample as many different restaurants as we could on a weeklong girlfriend getaway to Puerto Rico.

Great Pina Coladas and Mofongo at Barrachina (barrachino.com)

Dinner and a Flamenco Show (barrachina.com)

Barrachina is a pretty touristy restaurant, without much of that feeling of being in a restaurants the locals try to keep secret. The waitstaff spoke fluent English, for example, and the courses weren’t particularly spicy. What makes Barrachina worth the trip (besides those pina coladas) are the family-friendly atmosphere, indoor and outdoor seating, and the mofongo. This traditional Puerto Rican dish, made from mashed plantains, was actually better at Barrachina than at another restaurant – the one that the locals supposedly try to keep to themselves! The mofongo with pork was excellent, and the fajitas were also quite good. We ordered the nachos appetizer but, perhaps because this is a Puerto Rican, not Mexican, restaurant, the nachos weren’t quite what we expected. Rather than the huge pile of queso blanco cheese, hot jalapenos, and salsa/guacamole/sour cream, the nachos at Barrachina were kind of tame. Left more room for the entrees, though, which can be considered a good thing! The Spanish sausage, and the shrimp in garlic, were both tasty entrees. I also recommend the red snapper, for those interested in somewhat lighter fare.

Last, it’s important to note that Barrachina hosts weekly flamenco shows every Friday and Saturday. The women are incredible. I tried to take photos and video of the flamenco dancers, but their feet were often moving so fast – without a misstep – that all I got was a blur. This show, with dinner, makes for a special night out while on vacation in Puerto Rico.