Santaella

Review summary

1. C

   Crystal

   Caribbean

   1 review

   4.0

   1 review

   Dined today

   1. Overall 4
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 4
   4. Ambience 4

   I was searching restaurant near where I was staying and saw the grilled Octupus on the menu. Decided that I absolutely had to have it for my Birthday. This was my 1st time to Puerto Rico... visiting from Trinidad & Tobago and the food was impeccable. My husband ordered the salmon and enjoyed it, however, expected more noodles... he barely had a few strands on his plate; I tasted his food and didn't get any noodles. He said the vegetables were very tasty nonetheless. My grilled Octupus was delicious and so were the fingerling potatoes. The shrimp bao buns were delightful as well; that sauce tied it all together. It was a tad noisy but I guess that's what happens when you have many people conversing excitedly in such a small space. I was celebrating my birthday so was looking forward to getting a picture with the aesthetic wall but there were other patrons seated along it so couldn't. That was disappointing. Also, for special occasions I think complimentary dessert would be nice... not just a free candle. Overall, the experience was lovely.
   

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2. S

   Sonia

   VIP

   Chicago

   2 reviews

   1.0

   2 reviews

   Dined today

   1. Overall 1
   2. Food 2
   3. Service 1
   4. Ambience 1

   Came in 30 mins early and was greeted by a friendly waiter and gave us a table. The waiter assigned to our table was attentive up until desert . He totally forgot about us assumed the busboy was in charge of bringing out dessert. That was 35 mins later .
   

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3. C

   Cory

   VIP

   Milwaukee

   1 review

   5.0

   1 review

   Dined 1 day ago

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   One of the very best restaurants on the island. Great food. Creative drinks. Great service. Lively vibe inside and in the surrounding neighborhood outside it's doors. I have been many many times and I NEVER have had a bad experience. Can be hard to get into for dinner (you must have a reservation). Lunch is pretty open. Habe the pork shank. Sea bass also is perfevt. The place is just outstanding in every way.
   

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4. J

   Jenny

   Louisville

   4 reviews

   5.0

   4 reviews

   Dined 1 day ago

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 4
   4. Ambience 5

   We both got the Camarones. It’s shrimp with trifongo and a garlic cream sauce. It didn’t look that big but it was filling. I highly recommend it. We were seated and served quickly. Our reservation was for the bar, but we got a table in the bar area. We were in and out in an hour. It’s pricy, but it’s worth it for something that’s a special dinner or vacation dinner. We’d go back!
   

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5. C

   Christian

   New York City

   8 reviews

   3.0

   8 reviews

   Dined 1 day ago

   1. Overall 3
   2. Food 3
   3. Service 4
   4. Ambience 3

   The food it was not at the level to be expected. I had the tomato salad and it was not that impressive. The pork loin was not really a pork loin it was more like q chicharrón, but it was very good.
   

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6. T

   Todd

   VIP

   Orange County

   17 reviews

   5.0

   17 reviews

   Dined 2 days ago

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 4

   Our server Allan was great and super attentive. Drink and wine selections were good and food was outstanding and a great variety of influences to Puerto Rican cuisine. Pricing was a little high but worth it.
   

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7. T

   Thomas

   VIP

   Phoenix

   79 reviews

   5.0

   79 reviews

   Dined 2 days ago

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 4
   4. Ambience 5

   Service at first slow.. from that point great .. red snapper was excellent.. overall good
   

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8. E

   Emily

   San Francisco

   3 reviews

   5.0

   3 reviews

   Dined 2 days ago

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 4
   4. Ambience 5

   We sat at the bar and had dinner. The octopus appetizer was a must get. They first brought out our entrees and must have forgotten about the appetizer, but they quickly brought that out too when we reminded them and we didn’t mind. The atmosphere was very nice and the cocktails (espresso martini and jalapeño margarita) were excellent. Would definitely recommend for a nicer date night or vacation dinner.
   

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9. A

   Ann Marie

   VIP

   Bristol

   4 reviews

   5.0

   4 reviews

   Dined 5 days ago

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Excellent food and service …wonderful Nee Years dinner. Thank you!
   

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10. D

    Darilynn

    Austin

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4

    Beautiful restaurant and ambience. Extremely expensive for the food provided. Overpriced for typical Puerto Rican food available at many places for much less in Old San Juan. Was underwhelmed by the experience. Paid over 1,000 for an evening that could have cost less than $200.00 alt El Jibarito in Old San Juan.
    

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