Tresbé — Restaurant in San Juan

Not sure where to begin with this place. How about, I gave it four tries. First time was a good one. Got the poke bowl and a smoothie, no problem. Food and service was good. (About 4 months ago)

Went back a second time and tried to order veggie sliders. I sat at the bar with my drink (bartender did a good job). But my server was not the bartender she was working with the tables on the floor. (It was not a busy day at all). I asked how long the sliders take to make and she replied "10 to 15 minutes". So I asked her to order them for me 30 minutes go by and I had to get out of my chair and walk to her to get her attention. She apparently did not hear me the first time when I asked for them so I told her again. "Please order the veggie burgers for me". Another thirty minutes go by and no food!!! She obviously forgot again and I asked her to just give me my check. There was no apology on her end for wasting my time. Ten minutes go by and I still have yet to get my check. So I got up and asked her to drop my check, she replied "yes" and I sat down in my seat again. I watched her as she just kept about her business walking around nonchalantly and with nothing to do. I had to get up again and tell her to go to the machine and print my check in front of me. Considering this was the third time and I was obviously not going to get my food, I just wanted to leave. I was so turned off by this place when I left it took me three months to return.

About a week ago, I order the salmon sliders and a drink at the bar. The drink was good but the salmon sliders were pitiful. The sweet potato fries were not fresh and just dry. The sliders had a literal dime size of sauce and two small diced pieces of pineapple. If the menu says it has tomatoes, pineapple and onion, then please put more than just two piece of each ingredient, so you can actually taste it.

The last time I went back two days ago and I am never going back again. It was a day where there was a large soccer game on the TV outdoors but it was not a busy day for them. The two servers on the floor tables were young guys who did not seem to understand customer service (and I am aware it lacks in the island). However this just added to the previous experiences there. I went back to ordering my poke bowl because it can't fail. But my mom ordered a bean burger and was saddened by the all around taste and presentation. The beans were from a can that was partially mashed, formed into a ball and lightly seared on a flat top with about twenty seconds each side. So there was absolutely no structure to this burger, just mush. It also had the dime size squirt of sauce, no flavor. They put two cilantro leave and again two dices or tomato and a few pineapple pieces. Not once did the server ask if the meal was going alright or if we wanted refills on drinks. We got up a few times to get our own napkins and sauces. The servers were busy socializing and watching the game on the screen. My mom informed the server of the quality of the meal just as advice to share with the chef. Thankfully when I asked for the bill this time it was brought promptly. End of meal.

I would like to mention I have only worked in the restaurant industry for the past 12 years. Hostess, bartender, server and chef, which being a chef has been my main career for 10 years now. So I am not just scrutinizing for no reason without any restuarant knowledge. I have an idea of how things should flow, to say the least. So if I don't like a restaurant, I have some solid reasons as to why.

Don't recommend this place unless you want the staff to waste your time and the kitchen to give you below...

Today I believe the owner of this place made a racist remark to me I've been going to Tresbe a couple of times a week for breakfast for the last two years, since until recently I lived a couple of blocks away. Today I drove there for the first time, and gave my car to Tresbe's valet. Meal was ok and service was ok - I've gotten used to the mediocrity in both and tolerated it because the place is outside and dog friendly, and was very convenient for me to go with my dog. When I was ready for the car, I gave the valet a five dollar bill as a tip and he gave me the key and gestured for me to pull the car out once he moved the three or four cars that were boxing me in. I waited for 10-15 minutes only to realize that he had disappeared. I got out of the car and found him. He wouldn't say much but gestured that he didn't have the key(s) to the car immediately in front of mine and to the one to the right side of mine. I had earlier observed a man park the car on the street in front of mine, who seemed to act like the owner of the place - directing the valet to sweep the sidewalk - and walk away. I told the valet to go find that man, since he knowingly let the man park and block my car. Meanwhile I also complained to the manager of the restaurant, who was apologetic for the valet's boxing in my car. After a few minutes, the man who I thought I saw park the car originally comes down the street, doesn't apologize, and instead of moving the car, starts walking away. When I insist he move his car, he tells me to be quiet and keeps walking away. At that point I called the police and waited for them to arrive and see if they could have his car towed. Before the police arrived, the Tresbé owner returns and gives keys to the valet and the valet moves the car in front and to the side. Before I get a chance to get in my car, the owner tells me not to visit again and to go back to wherever I come from. I took this remark to be racist since I am Indian American. I told him that I live here in Puerto Rico and that he lost a long time customer. If I misinterpreted his remark, the only other possibility I could attribute is that he doesn't like me because he thinks I'm not Puerto Rican. I live in Puerto Rico, am an American like all my fellow Puerto Ricans, and don't appreciate someone telling me that this is not my home because they were here longer. I am also an investor in a restaurant too, and believe that restauranteurs should love food and people, and to provide true hospitality. This fellow revealed his true colors to me, and I will no longer give this restaurant...

Let me start off by saying that I've been going to this place for around 6-7 years, and I absolutely love the food. I've ordered the veggie burger sliders, the salmon sliders, the chicken, fish, and veggie tacos, many of their empanadillas, most of their sushi rolls and few of their poke bowls and other appetizers, don't even get me started with the drinks and desserts... I've tried it at all, and the food is delicious. I love it.

Now, I'm going to tell you why I'm leaving them a 1-star review: their service is absolutely terrible. In fact, it is the worst service that I have ever experienced in my life.

In all of the years that I've gone; I've had to wait for hours for my food to be brought to the table; I've been brought dishes that I haven't ordered instead of the ones that I have ordered; I've ordered food and had to cancel the order because of how long it was taking them to bring it out; I've had to order something different because they (a lot of the time) don't have most of the ingredients in a dish; I've ordered poke bowls (which only have six ingredients) that are missing one, two, even three ingredients when they're brought to me (even though no-one notified me of this when I ordered - even though I have already paid for the dish expecting it was going to have everything that it says it has on the menu); I've been told to leave a table if they have a waitlist that's too long; I've gotten passive-aggressive and sassy comments from many of the waiters; I've had to deal with waiters who don't have any idea of what's even going on around them, and who don't know how to handle any problems; I've also had to wait for more than 20, 30, even 40 minutes at a time (at the counter) to order food, when I'm the first in line... it is terrible, and not worth it - which is honestly a shame because their food, as I said, is really good.

If you ever want to get food here... open your phone and look for another place to eat. It's not worth it to pay for the food here when the service is so terrible, and there are many, many other places in the area with amazing food and drinks, and much, much, much better service. (Need suggestions? Pinky's, La Cuevita Del Mar, Panuchos, Kamoli, Pirilo, Berlingeri, Sabrina, Shibo, Yoko, Cafe Regina, Double Cake...).

Sincerely, from a regular...