PROLE Cocina & Barra — Restaurant in San Juan

Try this place, now. No clue why it wasn't packed, but it has the makings of one of those rare to find establishments. As a result, a more detailed critique.

The drinks were exceptionally crafted and set the tone for the meal to come. Started with the mushroom toast. The bread was fire-touched and nutty, went perfectly with the mushrooms, greens, and cheese. The 'to improve' is that not all of the bread saw the same level of heat so arrived soft, lacking any type of meaningful texture. The flavors were delicious so nothing was left behind.

Next, the roast bone marrow with jam, capers, and more toast. Again phenomenal flavor and roast marrow is basically cheating when asking for flavor. The marrow could have done with a few more minutes under the heat to break up the last of the connective bits. Otherwise, perfect flavors paired with the flame touched toast.

For main, the osso buco ragu with gnocchetti. This ranks in the best pasta dishes I've ever had. The meat was tender and flavorful, the pasta, perfectly cooked. I'd put this against any dish I've had at any Italian joint and commands the price asked. The lady had the caccio e pepe and said the same thing. So, kudos on the mains.

Ordered the carrots and just about forgot about em. The garlic or something must have been off because they were super bitter and under roasted. At least for me, a bit too much tooth for a baby carrot.

Service was prompt and friendly. Some minor tweaks and this would be a destination venue for both...

I have been going to Prole for several years and I have to say the new menu is amazing!! The chef and his team have offered us a new reason to keep coming back with new cocktail options and a new wine menu with some good affordable options.

For appetizers our group had the: heirloom tomato salad, rice cakes with beef tartare, turnovers with ossobucco and the cuban croquettes. All of them were delicious! Our favorite were the croquettes and the beef tartare.

For dinner we shared the: Mahi Mahi, Short Ribs, Leek Rissotto with Scallops and the Wagyu/Bone Marrow Burger. The taste of the burger is so unique, highly recommend it. The scallops were really well paired with the leek rissotto

For dessert we order one bread pudding with their salted honey ice cream and it was amazing. But the big surprise was their new butter cake which we paired with their vanilla and chocalate cake ice cream which was so good that we ordered two....

entered ( 01/22/2022 approx.time 7:45 pm) and greated by host,we were two people,no reservation.about 8 tables and 4 seats at the bar empty,was told we couldn't sit because they were waiting for people with reservations,but if we wanted to wait in case a cancelation,probably less than 1 hour,so I asked if we could sit at the bar and have drinks,but told no we couldn't sit at one of the 4 empty seats.so we had to leave.as a buisness person,If I had a 3/4 empty restaurant i would never turn away two people wanting to have dinner or willing to wait and sit at the bar to have drinks.The ONE STAR does not represent the food or service,it was necessary to click on a star to submit the review,still,I was taken back we were not allowed to sit at the bar to have drinks while we waited for a possible cancellation.based on friends recommendation i will be back to eat but with a...