Barrachina — Restaurant in San Juan

UPDATE:I went to wiki and looked this place up, they are located in old San Juan right by where the iconic exhibit of the umbrellas happened. They have an pretty ambiance and indoor as well as outdoor sitting, the ambiance and the vibe here is amazing, we came here once a couple of months back to have a frozen mojito and a shot, it was pretty amazing, so I decided I needed to have dinner here. Specially after realizing they were the SELF PROCLAIMED inventors of the Pina colada.

We made reservations for very close to closing time, when we came in they were about to close door it looked like. I mean they still had a good 40 min of service but it looked like they were about to close so it made us feel a little rushed to see the place that way.

We came in got our table and right away I went for my Pina colada!

PINA COLADA- what an disappointment!!!!! For the SELF PROCLAIMED Pina colada birth place they serve pre made mixed Pina colada that spins on a fazed drink machine all day!!!!! I must say that their frozen mojito was a lot more fresh and tastier!!! I didn’t even want to think about finishing that Pina colada. We told our waiter that it tasted weird and sour yet he just justified as because of the alcohol. I didn’t want to go too much into it so I just gave up on drinking it.

PUERTO RICAN DELIGHTS- assorted fried traditional Puerto Rican delicacies. -CROQUETTAS- very nice croquettes, they tasted rich and flavorful

-SORULLITOS DE MAIZ- tasted very plastic like but eatable

PASTELITOS DE CARNE Y POLLO- I had the pollo one and my companion the carne one, they were ok, just as expected for a pastel.

MADURO KAYAK WITH SHRIMP- this is a kayak made of maduro banana with a nice seasoned shrimp set and melted munster cheese on top. Came with a side of Salad and rice and beans, it was a very well rounded meal I loved the boat. The cheese although it is one of the cheapest cheeses out there it worked perfectly with the mix of sea, land and sweet. This was a pretty good meal.

FRIED RED SNAPPER- we got an whole red snapper fried for the dinner as well, we got a side of mofongo. He ate it all and loved it it seems. So just be aware of the fish spine cause as I said it is a whole fish. Besides that give it a try it seems to be worth it.

COCONUT FLAN- we were so exited for it, but sadly, NOPE! It was old tasting and very hardened by fudge time. It really lost taste and was not appealing at all. They also served us the corner piece, for someone like us (you yelper and I) this is a sin! A corner piece ?? It went downhill from there as the corner pieces can imediately tell you how long that flan has been in the fridge as well as to tell that they are giving us on of the last pieces so it will be the oldest one out there, if a business is smart enough they would eat the cost and just toss that corner piece.

Overall everything here was very ups and downs, atmosphere and decor on point, service was ok, WE NEVER MET OUR SERVER, since it was closing we were serviced by the busses, I do not mind that at all but we did make sure to ask him if he was getting a cut of the tip from this waiter we never met. The busier was great and we appreciated his service!, the drinks were terrible WORSEE PINA COLADA I HAVE EVER HAD in this island, the appetizers were on the mediocre side of things. The main courses were petty good and that is the reason why I didn’t go 2 stars on them, but now that desert was atrocious.

I would never come back here again, the place is definitely smokes and mirrors as far as its name and fame. They need to get their upsetting items to par with the main...

I am heart broken to report the restaurant has declined so much that I might just limit any future visit to just to order a piña colada to go. Yes, I was their biggest fan, but not anymore. Since my last review, I have been there a few times and saw the decline, but did not update my review. Honestly, I refused to accept the signs. I really wanted them to change back to their glory days. My last visit on Sunday, April 14 for my wife’s birthday, was a disaster. It is sad, but the management has turned this prime site into a tourist trap.

The food is so uninspiring that you absolutely can do better almost anywhere else in San Juan. The service is slooow. It seems like they are short staffed. Also the wait continues to be an issue. It is still too long. Is it really that hard to get a text based system to reserve a table in 2024??? On another topic, the facilities are so outdated. Yes, they were outdated two years ago, but now they look so worn out. They really need to invest back in the business. This the capital and the old city. How hard is to get a decent bathroom going?

But the worst offender is what they have done with the piña colada. The flavor is there, but they serve it in warm freshly washed glasses!!! By the time they get to your table the frostiness is gone. It is all melted into a room temperature mess. In my group of 11 only I drank mine with a smidgen of pleasure. My wife sent hers back because it was not frozen and when they brought another one, it was again in a warm glass. She regrettably drank it. Is it really that hard to place the cups in the freezer (or fridge) after washing? Do you have enough glasses?

At any rate, I hate having to write this way, but they are simply a tourist trap. Save yourself a disappointment and go eat somewhere else. If you want to experience the piña colada. Go to the bar w/o wait and get one to go in a plastic cup. That way, at least it will be frozen. -/-

Old review—no longer apply—- A classic. Skip the menu and order the Chuleta Can Can. They now have piña coladas with multiple rums. The Barrilito is the classic and best. Try the one with Bacardi or Captain Morgan. Pro Tip: The other ones I am sure are good but the balance might be missing (I am talking to you Myers). In terms of the wait: yes it is going to be long wait any time of the day. Go early, sign up on the waiting list, give your cell phone and walk around Old San Juan. A couple of hours will go by fast, you will get a call and you will go straight...

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