Melao Bistro — Restaurant in San Juan

My wife and I came here, after a long flight from ATL. We chose it because we saw the entire front packed at lunch time (FYI - any time is a perfect time). We came in to sit at the bar, the host greeted us and we immediately felt like a member of the family. The chef has a line of sight to the customers, and I think he intentionally makes each dish based on the heart of the customer - we needed this experience and he delivered in a way that caused me and my wife to return every day for 5 days straight (late lunch or early dinner). The food, service and overall vibe a 5+. I promise you, Andrew Bourdain passed too soon - if he was still amongst us (God Bless him), you would find an episode of him raving about the Ceviche, the Shrimp Risotto or ANY of the daily PR focused specials. If this place doesn’t have a Michelin star yet…it’s coming! Get here before the tourist completely take it over. #GOD...

Melao Bistro saved our family on when we committed the sin of going out for dinner in Old San Juan without having made a reservation. Located just down the waterfront from the cruise ship docks and a short walk from Old San Juan, Julian welcomed us, our two young children and our infant warmly, inviting us in and Marelsie immediately bringing several games for the children to play at the table. We ordered a selection of dishes: tostones, arroz con habichuelas for the kids, salmon with tamarind sauce and veggie tacos. It all came out quickly and the food was delicious. The flan con queso was a great dessert at the end. If we are ever in San Juan again, we...

I absolutely did not anticipate this place would be as awesome as it was. Tucked away from the more touristy areas and far from the cruises, the food here was both incredibly delicious and surprisingly affordable. Inside was not very big from the looks of it but given the nice weather we sat outside and enjoyed the nearby breeze. My burger was quite thick and cooked appropriately to order: medium (hottest way to eat meat fyi). My wife's salad was equally good with fresh vegetables. We will definitely be returning for...