Restaurant Baru tops my list of all-time favorite Caribbean eateries. You dine at tiny white- clothed tables on delectable dishes such as shrimp pinchos on a bed of yucafungo dripping in orange liqueur sauce or fresh sea scallops served on a sea shell in a bath of creamy coconut curry while being attended to by servers with beautiful smiles. Baru is also a favorite of celebrities... we dined next to Patrick Swayze when he was in Puerto Rico filming "Dirty Dancing - Havana Nights". While the restaurant deserves accolades for food, ambiance, decor, service, and energy, it is not only this tiny establishment that thrills me but the entire feeling when in Old San Juan. I love the cobblestone streets, wrought iron balconies draped in flowering vines, the old men in the park playing dominoes in hushed concentration, the rich smells escaping the cigar bars, the sultry rhythms of salsa music and the hypnotic click of the dancer's heels, and the majestic site of El Morro with its verdant lawn and silent cannons. I love that Old San Juan transports me to a time long ago when grandeur was found not in skyscrapers and neon lights, but solid craftsmanship, fine cuisine, and most importantly good times. Wrap all of this into one great evening and enjoy Old San Juan and Restaurant Baru!
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Restaurant Review - Baru, Old San Juan, Puerto Rico
Restaurant Baru tops my list of all-time favorite Caribbean eateries. You dine at tiny white- clothed tables on delectable dishes such as shrimp pinchos on a bed of yucafungo dripping in orange liqueur sauce or fresh sea scallops served on a sea shell in a bath of creamy coconut curry while being attended to by servers with beautiful smiles. Baru is also a favorite of celebrities... we dined next to Patrick Swayze when he was in Puerto Rico filming "Dirty Dancing - Havana Nights". While the restaurant deserves accolades for food, ambiance, decor, service, and energy, it is not only this tiny establishment that thrills me but the entire feeling when in Old San Juan. I love the cobblestone streets, wrought iron balconies draped in flowering vines, the old men in the park playing dominoes in hushed concentration, the rich smells escaping the cigar bars, the sultry rhythms of salsa music and the hypnotic click of the dancer's heels, and the majestic site of El Morro with its verdant lawn and silent cannons. I love that Old San Juan transports me to a time long ago when grandeur was found not in skyscrapers and neon lights, but solid craftsmanship, fine cuisine, and most importantly good times. Wrap all of this into one great evening and enjoy Old San Juan and Restaurant Baru!
