Muelle 13 — Restaurant in San Juan

Found this restaurant while in port from a cruise and struck gold. We always look for where the locals eat, a lot of places on this street serve food, many filled with tourists, but this was approx 70% local - 30% tourists from what we could see. You do have climb 3-4 steep steps to enter but we were immediately seated. There are some tables on the sidewalk under umbrellas for shade, but everyone passing stares at you as the sidewalk is not that large. The menu is via a QR Code on the table; drink orders were quickly taken and delivered. The staff were constantly laughing & joking, both with each other and guests. Music was playing via CD and got your toes tapping, especially as staff would sometimes dance along with the music. Just a great relaxed atmosphere. There must have been some instruments just inside as a local guest picked up a drum and started playing & sing to the music, but neither were too loud, you could still carry a conversation without leaning in or shouting to one another. Wifey ordered the Shredded Slow Cooked Pork Sliders and I ordered Chorizo in Wine reduction! OMG!!! I have never tasted pork so flavorful and so light, that it just melted in your mouth. The Chorizo was to die for... the wine reduction I cannot recreate as just dances on your tongue and the flavor profiles are just complex, every bite was amazing. I actually ate the lot and much to the wife's disgust, drank the left-over sauce AND licked the bowl clean. Chef gave me the recipe, but not the know how (and I have tried) to make it. The prices were good, they bring a do-dad to your table to pay, so your credit card doesn't leave your sight. So, while there are plenty of eateries, I recommend this one, period.

UPDATE: In fact, we returned on another cruise 18 months later and made a beeline here after a walking the old town on hot day. We were going to try other items but got the same as last time and still was not disappointed!!! We're booking another...

We were seated immediately at Muella 13, which seemed like a good sign considering every other spot on the strip had a 40+ minute wait. In hindsight, the lack of a wait might’ve been a red flag.

I ordered the pollo yuca mofongo with creole sauce, and while the presentation was unique—served in tall wooden gourds—it made actually eating the dish frustrating. The mofongo spilled out every time I tried to scoop a bite, and the height of the container made it difficult to eat without a mess. No plates were provided to catch the overflow, so I found myself fighting with both the food and the presentation.

As for the food itself: extremely salty, very expensive, and the yuca mofongo was stringy and tough—not smooth or creamy like it should be. Each bite had fibrous strands I had to literally pull out of my mouth.

Service was a major issue. We weren’t given drink menus, and even after finally requesting one, it took 25+ minutes for our server to return and take the order. The drink didn’t arrive until after the food did. It took 45 minutes for the food to come out, and during that time, our server was nearly impossible to flag down. It wasn’t even that busy—each server seemed to only have a few tables—but they’d disappear into the back for long stretches. The service was slower than island time, which is saying something.

To top it off, there was a loud argument between a couple inside the restaurant that went on for about 15 minutes before they were finally removed. It made for an uncomfortable, chaotic atmosphere.

I wanted to like this place—the location is great and the concept had potential—but the poor service, uncomfortable plating, expensive price, and underwhelming food made it a...

What a disappointment this meal was!! I ordered rice, beans, carne frita n plantains. The menu prices were on d high side about $28 per plate. My travel partner ordered pork chops n rice. Also approx. $30. I'm well traveled n know to not complaint about food in some restaurants to prevent dealing w. confrontation n dealing with waitresses who are offended bc one dared to complaint n may "mess" with your food!! This was d worse experience I ever had. I was served 'pegao' (bottom of d pot hard rice) instead of fresh rice!! It was hard to chew n stuck on my teeth!! "Pegao'' is something that can be eaten at home n tastes delish! But I wouldn't go to a restaurant n paid $30 for it!!! As I've mentioned, I chose to not complaint, 1st, bc I was famished. Had been looking for a place to eat PRican food, for over an hour! 2nd It was 10:30 P.M.on a weekday n most restaurants were closed. After I manage to eat/chew d hard rice, I asked for d bill n told d waitress about d issue n explained why I didn't complaint...she responded "we'll give u a 20% discount n a free dessert" I didn't care to have either but graciously accepted. But I was appalled bc To add insult to injury, at d time of paying for d bill, somehow our bill went from 2 $30 meals in d menu (approx $75 total) to $100!!! I showed class n didn't start any 'noise', paid d bill n left to write this review n to never return!! I would not recommend them unless u don't mind dealing with d nonsense!!! #appalling...