Casita Miramar — Restaurant in San Juan

PERFECT DATE NIGHT.

If you are looking for perfection on a date look no further. This place is it.

They have private parking across the street with someone that watches the cars and arrange then if there are any parked blocking yours.

The place is so pretty and charming, there an old air of elegance and Spanish culture all over the place here. Perfect dimmed lighting and some classy music going on.

The staff is super friendly and they know what you want, the hostess was spot on with a cute little darker cubby for our date night that made the experience so much more special.

Fun yet weird aspect of the place is the fact that they do not have menus per se. they come and put up some chalk board with the appetizers listed there as well as they will verbally tell you about the drink specials and you can pick from there. After you done picking the appetizer, later they will bring another board with the main menu for the entrees.

The boards come either in English or in Spanish and that is very helpful :D

The wait staff was perfect with the right amount of attention to the table and the right amount of letting us be.

WHITE PASSION FRUIT SANGRIA- this sangria is pretty good, not strong and perfectly balanced, I was expecting to be sour but nope! It was just great.

BUNELOS DE QUESO, MALANGA E CHORIZO- what an amazing appetizer, I was nervous thinking that the chorizo would overpower the taste but no I was once again pleasantly wrong. This was one of the best appetizers in a restaurant that I have ever had.

ALCAPURRIAS DE CERDO- this is a like a traditional fried delicacy here in Puerto Rico, in this place this delicacy is so different tasting than any other lower end places I have been. The alcapurria was just so good I didn’t even believe it was an alcapurria. It obviously came with its ketchup dip.

CHURRASCO- the churrasco comes with a vinaigrette that was somewhat sweet as well as a side, we got a maduro like fruit and asked for the ketchup dip again for it, the meat was perfectly cooked and the vinaigrette made the meat sweeter and easier to enjoy. It was skirt steak, I loved the way they cooked it, the serving was perfect for 2 after the couple of appetizers. If you do not have an appetizer you might wanna have the entire meal on your own.

TRES LECHES (COCONUT) - HEAVENLY thats the word for this cake, I saw people here that came over the restaurant JUST FOR THIS. The cake taste like a coquito, the coconut is so nice and the cake is moist and not super sweet even though it has a glaze on top, the glaze had the perfect amount of sweet. This was an art they had achieve here on this desert, a perfect song.

I must say that I got a little lost inside the place when I needed to go to the bathroom lol, the bathrooms were a bit on the hidden side of things but thats just a fun fact.

ANOTHER FUN FACT! When I was lost I found myself in front of a green house like and so I found out that they plant their own cilantro and small seasoning fresh plants. That was a real cool realization!

What can I say, this was a perfect night! There is no better way to put it. This place had me blown...

While the food here is excellent, the day that we went the maitre d’ was stunningly incompetent. When we arrived there was a large crowd already waiting, and the maitre d’ seemed in the middle of chaos. There was no line or any prodium for people to queue up to get seated. When she asked, we gave our name, the number of people, and our seating preference and seemed to have written it down. Later she came back and asked our name again. After that, she asked us the number of people again. And after that she asked our seating preference again. Only after that and another wait, were we seated. As we were being seated, we realized that there were empty tables everywhere for all the parties that were waiting. In fact, the maitre d’ seated about three couples at the same time as with us. There were no people leaving during the entire time we were waiting. We waited for about thirty minutes and

The decor is nice, and the restaurant is carved up into small areas as well as a n outdoor covered balcony seating area. There is a green wall as well as an area where the restaurant seems to grow their own vegetables under grow lights (though this area, which we were lead through to get to our seats seems to be for staff only as it is wholly undecorated and dirty). We were seated at a table for two in a hallway between private rooms and a bar area. The air conditioner there was absolutely frigid.

Service here the day we went was spotty, even aside from the maitre d’. The menus are written on chalkboards but we were not shown the menus for some time, long enough that we had already decided on our orders from other chalkboards that we wandered over to see. Our waiter got our order wrong, even though he repeated the order back to us likely because he didn’t bother to write it down. The busboy was the most energetic of all the folks there, though that energy spilled over a little when he took a dish away I wasn’t done with before I had a chance to even protest.

When we were seated, we were offered some plantain soup, and a little amuse bouche of bacalaitos (salted cod fritter) that someone in charge that seemed like the owner made seem like it was to make up for the maitre d’s incompetence, but was actually typical of their service. Aside from this we had pork alcapurrias (a fritter of flavored plantain and malanga dough filled with pork) and almojabanas in guava (fried rice flour fritters filled with cheese) as appetizers. For the main course we had the canoa con ropa vieja (sweet plantain stuffed with shredded beef) which came with mofongo and smoked pork ribs in guava BBQ served with sweet plantains. Given a lack of attention, we decided to skip desert, though we were given a shot of anisette before we left.

I hope that the restaurant was having an off night because the food we got was quite tasty, the larger number of reviews are good, and the decor in other parts of the restaurant seemed quite cozy and charming. However, our experience was less than...

Casita Miramar – San Juan, PR Authenticity, Flavor, and a Touch of Nostalgia—with Room for a Warmer Welcome

As a devoted foodie who thrives on culture-rich, flavor-forward experiences, Casita Miramar in San Juan remains one of those rare spots where food is deeply tied to memory. I visited for Mother’s Day with high expectations—and while the evening delivered plenty to rave about, it wasn’t without a hiccup.

First Impressions: The charm starts before you walk in. The valet service was smooth and professional, with the attendant offering thoughtful tips about coordinating pickup—something many higher-end spots forget. Bonus points: parking is free (just remember to tip!).

Atmosphere: From the outside, Casita Miramar feels like stepping into a cherished memory—the architecture and ambiance instantly reminded me of my grandmother’s home in Tras Talleres, Santurce. It’s cozy, vibrant, and full of soul.

The Miss: The only sour note came at the host stand. Despite calling ahead to confirm my reservation, I wasn’t told there was a strict two-hour dining limit. That detail was dropped on us without much grace upon arrival. The hostess skipped a proper greeting and responded with little warmth or courtesy when I voiced my concern. For a restaurant of this caliber—especially on a special occasion—hospitality should begin at the door.

The Save: Enter Camila, our waitress—and the hero of the night. She provided exactly the kind of attentive, informed, and personable service that sets the tone for a memorable meal. She explained the specials beautifully and guided us through the menu with charm and care.

Now, the Food (cue happy sigh): • Starter: Salpicón de Pulpo en Escabeche with a side of tostones. The octopus? Incredibly tender. A true love letter to Puerto Rican coastal cuisine. • Main Course: Atún Filete special and their classic bistec (pounded tenderloin) with rice and beans. That bistec was everything—comforting, seasoned perfectly, and reminiscent of a home-cooked feast. • Sides: A light and creamy avocado salad. • Drinks: After two unavailable wine options, Camila helped me select a Menada Sauvignon Blanc, which paired like a dream with the atún. • Surprise delight: A complimentary house soup and bacalaítos—a warm, salty bite of heaven to start.

Final Verdict: Aside from the lackluster greeting, everything else—the service, the flavors, the setting—was exceptional. This was my second visit, and I already know there’ll be a third. Camila deserves special recognition, and Casita Miramar remains a top pick for anyone seeking true Puerto Rican food with soul.

Food: 9.5/10 Service (excluding host): 10/10 Ambiance: 10/10 Would I...