La Jibarita — Restaurant in Mayagüez

We were truly disappointed by our recent experience at La Jibarita. According to Google, the restaurant closes at 9:00 PM, and TripAdvisor lists it as 10:00 PM. We arrived at 8:00 PM, thinking we had plenty of time to enjoy a meal.

From the moment we walked in, the staff made us feel unwelcome. The hostess informed us that the kitchen was “supposed” to close at 8:45 PM, which we understood and were willing to work with. However, the discomfort was obvious — she consulted the manager, who, judging by the body language, was clearly unhappy about seating us. We were made to wait while the staff whispered among themselves, repeatedly asking how many people were in our party and returning to huddle and gossip.

Eventually, we were seated, but the unwelcoming energy persisted. To keep things simple and quick, we asked for pizza — only to be told there was no pizza available. At that point, with such a negative atmosphere and lack of hospitality, we decided to leave.

Ironically, the staff seemed disappointed that we left — as if they had made a great “sacrifice” by even considering serving us.

It’s disheartening to see a place with such a good reputation staffed by employees who don’t reflect the values a business owner likely expects. I had spoken highly of La Jibarita to my family, and we were looking forward to the experience — only to end up going somewhere else.

If you plan to visit, I strongly recommend not arriving within one or two hours of closing time. Unfortunately, the staff clearly does not want to serve late guests and will make you feel as though you’re a burden rather than a...

Oh my God...stop the presses! This place, eatery, bar, and ambience sanctuary is my newest haven for an awesome culinary experience, an overall good time. BTW they also have live entertainment to boot!!

First off on Tuesdays their lunch special includes a Stuffed Chicken Breast wrapped in Bacon...yes BACON, topped with Guava sauce, need I say more!

This is all made possible by the exquisite talent of people like Néstor Seda aka Chuqui - Chef, Sheila pronounced Shayla - Flavor Meister Extraordinaire, and the rest of the great kitchen staff.

While you're treating your taste buds, you're able to indulge having the most beautiful beverages like Mojitos, and/or whatever else you usually drink expertly prepare by a very nice and capable wait/bartending staff.

Great warm smiling people like Rolo, Eric, Tiffany, Paula, Lucía, Edwin, Stephanie, Wilmarie, and León - Manager will ensure your presence there is really appreciated and welcome.

Now on Fridays their lunch specials include a Red Snapper filet lightly breaded, and cooked to perfection. I had mine with mixed vegetables like Asparagus, Carrots, Brussel Sprouts and...who really like them, right? Well I kidd you NOT...best ones I've ever had.

I liked this place so much I bought two of their cool T-shirts, which Arlís the Operations Manager hand delivered to me, and even called me by my first name...isn't that nice?

Oh yeah my friends...just don't go there, RUN! You won't regret it! Thanks La Jibarita... you're simply AWESOME!...

A Truly Disappointing Experience at La Jibarita.

My recent visit to La Jibarita in Mayagüez was incredibly frustrating, earning it a solid one-star review. We arrived looking forward to brunch, which their schedule clearly states is served until 2:00 PM. However, to our dismay, we were informed they stopped offering it at 1:00 PM – a full hour before their advertised cut-off. This was the first major letdown.

Adding to the limited options, we were also told that neither pizza nor desserts would be available until after 3:00 PM. So, with brunch off the table and a significant portion of their other menu items unavailable, our choices were severely restricted. Compounding these issues was the exceptionally slow service. We were told that the food would take longer than usual as only two people were working in the kitchen.

After waiting an unreasonable amount of time with such a limited menu, we ultimately decided to cut our losses and leave. Between the misleading brunch hours, the lack of many menu items, and the glacial pace of service, La Jibarita provided a truly disappointing dining experience. I definitely won't...