La Estación

La Estación Review

Billing itself as "Una Parrilla New Yorican," this laid-back, reasonably priced, open-air restaurant occupies a former Esso gas station. Elevating Puerto Rican street food to art form, two New Yorkers (one Puerto Rican) who just wanted to live out their dreams of owning a restaurant, are doing it to fabulous result in a prime space outside the El Conquistador Resort. Highlighting products obtained from local fisherman and farmers, then smoking their own meats in an outdoor kitchen, Idalia Garcia and Kevin Roth's awesome joint is one of Puerto Rico's don't miss culinary treats. Settle into one of the mismatched patio tables—be it made of teak, cedar, or concrete—order up a cocktail like the Don Q-osmo (a passionfruit cosmopolitan made with rum), and get ready to feast. Must-have plates include a side-splitting portion of meaty pork ribs marinated in sofrito, then dry-rubbed in BBQ sauce before smoking, a mixed seafood yuca mofongo (more moist than the plantain variety), a refreshing Puerto Rican green papaya salad with cashews, and some shrimp, shark or pork pinchos (Puerto Rican skewers). Don't skip dessert; the carmelized banana pastelillo with cinnamon, sugar, and vanilla ice cream is out of this world.