El Pescador — Restaurant in Ponce

Since this is a long post, let me get started with recommendations for people who still want to try the place:

If you decide to go even after this review, here's what to do:

If you order seafood or anything stuffed with seafood, request it WITHOUT onions. They tend to stuff it with onions and skimp on the seafood. This applies to everything they prepare with sauces, "al ajillo," or any others.

Ask them to IMMEDIATELY inform you of the cost by weight for each fish, without exceptions.

If you order to go, check your order before leaving in case they need to make any changes.

Avoid their side mofongo, it’s not good.

THE REVIEW:

We ordered two chillos: one stuffed with seafood and one non-stuffed chillo. They charged both as two seafood-stuffed chillos, and additionally charged for a mariscada ($35 for the mariscada alone, which had a lot of onion an served as the stuffed seafood for one chillo). The chillos supposedly cost $84 each (they claimed they weighed over 3 pounds, see pictures below). Don't get me wrong; they tasted amazing, one of the best chillos I've ever tried. However, they need to be transparent with their prices, which are not reflected on their menu. They have different prices for each weight, but they keep it a secret. The cheap price on their menu for a chillo, which was almost $34, had no weight provided for that piece. Also, take a look at the mofongo bite size and the taste wasn’t good.

The juices are $6 each, so be aware of that. We ordered four, which added up to $24, almost like ordering drinks. They also have wine that is cheaper than natural juices.

What bothered us was an order we placed to go: arroz mamposteao, grilled churrasco, and mofongo. The mamposteao was horribly salty with no beans, and the churrasco was salty too. Once again, the mofongo was bite-sized.

The service was great, but they need to be trained to be transparent with their clients. We don't hesitate to pay for what's worth it, but what I mentioned is questionable. I didn't complain and just paid because there were young people who needed that paycheck, but I won't be returning and I will not recommend this place.

We were charged approximately $350; I wish you...

Hola! Fui a este local ya que tenia muchos buenos “reviews” soy local y viajo mucho por la isla 🏝 probando negocios del patio.

Tuve la oportunidad de visitar este local recientemente. Me llamo la atención porque la carte tiene un menu variado. Es un local pequeño y por lo poco que estuve alli entiendo que es un negocio de familia. Pedi un chillo frito de 1lb y media (1 1/2) el plato viene con mojo isleño y un acompañate para el cual pedi tostones.

Primero no me notificaron que no tenian chillo de ese peso y me trajeron dos chillos pequeños que entre la cabeza y las espinas obvio recibes menos “carne” en adicion NO parecia frito, parecia mas como asado o al vapor. Los tostones estaban “maduros” osea que saben mas a amarillos (platano maduro) y por ultimo habia pedido el mojo aparte el cual ME COBRARON como un complemento aparte cuando en el menu ese plato sale con mojo isleño incluido. Dentro de todo entre no notificarme lo del pescado y venderme los amarillos como tostones cuando fui a pagar la cuenta le digo a mi mesera”mira note que me estan cobrando el mojo isleño como un complemento extra y eso segun el menu sale con el plato” lo cual la mesera me contesta “ es que por ponerlo aparte me notifican que tengo que cobrartelo aparte”. Me estuvo un poco absurdo ya que no era que me estaba dando el mojo “extra” simplemente aparte.

Tengo que decir la cerveza estaba fria. Pero el servicio y lo que pague por la comida ($$$) no me parece que valga la pena. El que me conoce sabe que no me molesta pagar por un servicio/un plato siempre y cuando lo valga. Espero que tomen nota de estos señalamientos ya que no fui la unica, otro cliente sentado al lado de nuestra mesa tuvo un señalamiento similar con respecto al pescado.

Hi! I went to this place since it had lots of good reviews. I am a local and I travel a lot around the island 🏝 trying local businesses.

I had the opportunity to visit this place recently. It caught my attention because they have a varied menu. It is a small place and from the short time I was there I understand that it is a family business. I ordered a fried snapper of 1lb and a half (1 1/2) the dish comes with island mojo and a side for which I ordered tostones.

First, they did not notify me that they did not have snapper of that weight and they brought me two small snappers that between the head and the bones obviously you receive less "meat" in addition it did NOT look fried, it looked more like roasted or steamed. The fried plantains were "ripe", that is, they taste more like yellow (ripe banana) and finally I had asked for the mojo separately, for which I was CHARGED as a separate complement when that dish comes out with island mojo included on the menu. Among all, between not notifying me about the fish and selling me yellow plantains when I went to pay the bill I told my waitress "look note that they are charging me for the island mojo as an extra complement and that according to the menu comes out with the plate" the waitress replied "is that by putting it aside they notify me that I have to charge it separately." It was a bit absurd to me since it was not that she was giving me the "extra" mojo just aside.

I have to say the beer was cold. But the service and what you pay for the food ($$$) does not seem to me that it is worth it. Anyone who knows me knows that I don't mind paying for a service / dish as long as it is worth it. I hope you take note of these statements since I was not the only one, another customer sitting next to our table had a similar complaint...

I liked my lunchtime visit, pretty respectable establishment.

But maybe there's inconsistency with the service? Cause I see a lot of displeased reviews.

Anyway, I visited here cause I needed a lunch spot that wasn't under the boiling sunshine.

Called and was tended by a lovely employee. She was very patient with my questions and took my order with ease. Great service, I left a tip.

Saw her taking an order in English with some tourists, so English speakers can lunch or dine here with ease.

The food was very good. Everything had a powerful, enjoyable flavor that I thought was exquisite.

You'll love the Mamposteado rice, it was excellent. The beefsteak was handsomely seasoned.

Prices are decent, average for Ponce standards. $7.50 the cheapest lunch, and $15 the most expensive. Average price was $8.50.

Atmosphere is ok. It's kind of like a giant fish tank with an air conditioner and the food comes from the back.

Overall, I enjoyed my visit. It seems like many folks didn't though, so be wary in case it isn't as good. For my visit, I give...