Vaca Brava - Old San Juan

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1. JK

   JessicaK

   New England

   4 reviews

   2.0

   4 reviews

   Dined on March 18, 2023

   overall2food1service2ambience2

   This was our least favorite meal in San Juan. The food took a very long time but certain dishes came out cold. We did not have a very attentive server, one of the people in our group never received their drink, and a few of our dishes were simply not good. For example two of us split a meat trio, and while the ribs were good the chicken and steak were both very bad. I couldn’t even chew most of my bites of the steak. Another person in our group got the mofongo and it was almost inedible the pork was so dry. Pros: we were hangry on a Saturday night with a large party and they were able to seat us right away. The ribs were good. Cons: drinks were average, food took forever and was not good, and the service was inattentive.

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2. CC

   CC89

   Dallas

   25 reviews

   vip
   3.0

   25 reviews

   Dined on March 15, 2023

   overall3food3service2ambience3

   The best way to describe our experience is “meh”. Won’t return. Brutally slow service. Not island slow but painfully slow. Adequate food.

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3. OT

   OpenTable Diner

   Charleston

   5 reviews

   2.0

   5 reviews

   Dined on March 13, 2023

   overall2food3service1ambience1

   Decent food, nice service but ridiculously slow. Place is loud and the price of the meal not in line with the experience. It’s in a touristy area so keep expectations in line with that… meh

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4. M

   Medicano

   Philadelphia

   1 review

   5.0

   1 review

   Dined on March 9, 2023

   overall5food5service5ambience5

   Amazing experience with great food. Easy to find and near everything in the city.

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5. J

   Jerry

   1 review

   1.0

   1 review

   Dined on February 20, 2023

   overall1food1service1ambience1

   Probably one of the worst restaurants in old San Juan.

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6. OT

   OpenTable Diner

   South Dakota

   1 review

   5.0

   1 review

   Dined on February 13, 2023

   overall5food5service5ambience5

   Deliciously prepared Puerto Rican meats! We sat outside which was the perfect ambiance being in Old San Juan. Would go back for sure!

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7. TA

   ToddA

   Las Vegas

   20 reviews

   vip
   5.0

   20 reviews

   Dined on February 13, 2023

   overall5food5service5ambience5

   Great new discovery in Old San Juan. Portions are generous. Food quality is great.

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8. OT

   OpenTable Diner

   Chicago

   6 reviews

   1.0

   6 reviews

   Dined on July 24, 2022

   overall1food1service1ambience1

   They did not honor open table reservations and asked wait 2 hours. Off course we left. Pointless to make reservations at this place.

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9. MD

   MarcelleD

   Western NC

   4 reviews

   1.0

   4 reviews

   Dined on July 24, 2022

   overall1food1service1ambience1

   I arrived for our reservation, they said there was a 2 hr wait and their system wasnt working so they couldnt honor my reservation. They didnt even try to come up with a solution just ‘sorry its not working, nothing we can do’

   Report
10. AF

    AmbarF

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on April 2, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Only thing i would change is that the music was too loud. Could barely hear the people on my table because of it.

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11. TB

    TerriB

    Tallahassee

    14 reviews

    vip
    2.0

    14 reviews

    Dined on January 8, 2022

    overall2food2service1ambience3

    Unfortunately we did not have a good experience. After being seated, we waited for 35 minutes before a server acknowledged our presence. The restaurant was not that busy yet we couldn’t seem to get anyone’s attention. When we were finally served our food was lukewarm. The vegetable of the day was actually cold, as if it had been microwaved but not long enough! The flavor of the food was good; I had skirt steak and shrimp. We are in San Juan a lot on business but will look for other options for dinner our next visit.

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12. d

    dancemom

    New England

    25 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    25 reviews

    Dined on January 2, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience4

    Get the meat on the stick! Wonderful! Great assortment of meat!

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13. K

    Kelsinsouthie

    New England

    4 reviews

    vip
    2.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on October 8, 2021

    overall2food2service2ambience2

    Visited Vaca Brava for dinner while on vacation in Old San Juan. Unfortunately, our dining experience was less that expected due to the quaility of en

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14. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on September 10, 2021

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Food was excellent great time with friends

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15. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    San Antonio

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on September 10, 2021

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Charlie was absolutely fabulous. He made our first time there a memorable time. The food was delicious and the portion sizes are worth the price. Will visit again when in PR.

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16. KG

    KristhiaG

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on August 29, 2021

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Me super encantó la comida estaba bien bueno el new york steak

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17. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    Philadelphia

    16 reviews

    4.0

    16 reviews

    Dined on August 15, 2021

    overall4food5service3ambience4

    Great food, cooked perfectly. Service was shotty though. Server kept forgetting what we would ask for. Then would come back 15 minutes later like oh yea… but forget again. FroZen drinks came out completely melted.

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18. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on August 12, 2021

    overall3food3service3ambience3

    Nothing extraordinary. Waiter was very busy so did not check on us and it took awhile to get his attention.

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19. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    Philadelphia

    3 reviews

    1.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on August 7, 2021

    overall1food1service2ambience3

    Worst meal of the vacation , sausage dry, chicken bad , salad limp leaves , empanada appetizers no meat inside STAY AWAY !!!

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20. DC

    DalmarysC

    1 review

    1.0

    1 review

    Dined on August 4, 2021

    overall1food1service1ambience1

    Worse place an experience ever. Don't waste your money or time. The food was cold as freezer cold the chicken was burn like black burn. We canceled an order because it never came to the table and we keep asking the waiters and he keep lying. We wait 45min for food. We called the manager to the table she didn't care about tje cold food and the orders not coming. The menu said a price tje change totally different and when I asked why the price are different they didn't know how to answer the question. DO NOT WASTE YOU TIME AND MONEY. I know why the first 2 places close because the administration and the people that work there does not know how to administration and run the place correctly. I do customer service for a living and I have never being in a place that they don't care about the customer satisfaction.

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21. C

    Customer

    Chicago

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on July 22, 2021

    overall3food4service3ambience3

    Even with a reservation, service was very slow. Food was good, but the prices were higher then anticipated due to several different taxes.

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22. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on July 20, 2021

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    The food was delicious beautiful atmosphere and great service. Me and my family enjoyed it

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23. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    New York Area

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on July 17, 2021

    overall5food5service3ambience5

    Overall not a bad experience. Food was great and so were the drinks but they just took way too long to get to the table. It wasn’t crazy busy yet we didn’t get our food for like 45mins unfortunately.

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24. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    Atlantic City

    2 reviews

    3.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on July 17, 2021

    overall3food2service5ambience3

    The food came out so salty my girls send her food back, but the steak was good.

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25. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    Fort Lauderdale

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on July 15, 2021

    overall5food4service4ambience5

    Great mofongos

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26. IC

    IsraelC

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on July 15, 2021

    overall3food4service2ambience4

    Good food, slow service (may have been under staff on my visit) good ambient, good drinks

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27. DK

    DamianK

    Las Vegas

    1 review

    vip
    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on July 14, 2021

    overall4food5service2ambience3

    We had a seven o clock reservation and there was a line just to check in we waited like 20 minutes and the girls takes you inside the door we’re she checks you in and says you have to wait for your table to be ready we go outside for another 20 minutes meanwhile there are empty and clean tables available finally after 45 minutes we get in the food was very good but the service was painfully slow we didn’t get out of there till 9:45 smh

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28. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    New York Area

    8 reviews

    3.0

    8 reviews

    Dined on July 7, 2021

    overall3food3service3ambience2

    Our waiter was very nice and pleasant. However that is the only positive thing I can say about the restaurant. Other service, food, and surroundings made it a negative experience

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29. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    Philadelphia

    11 reviews

    2.0

    11 reviews

    Dined on July 6, 2021

    overall2food3service1ambience1

    Horrible experience through out. We arrived for our reservation approximately 20 minutes early, when we checked in we were told to wait until our reservation time. This would have been fine, however there were plenty of empty tables visible through the window. We get seated at our reservation time and we proceed to sit for 30 minutes before we even get water. We are brought a pitcher of water which is just left on the table with plastic cups. Some water and ice get spilled on the table and that sits for 20 minutes or so before the waiter drops paper towel on the table for us to clean it up. The wet paper towels are never picked up even though our waiter was cleaning the adjoining table. Food was okay, not great, but service was beyond service. The only positive was the young man who brought us our food. He was very pleasant and courteous. Clearly was caring and trying to do a good job, versus everyone else we interacted with at the restaurant.

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30. MG

    MGPE

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on July 4, 2021

    overall3food4service2ambience3

    Servicio lento. Se reservó la mesa a una hora y cuando llegamos no estaba disponible.

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31. FR

    FREDERICKO

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on June 25, 2021

    overall3food3service3ambience2

    Food is good, not excellent. The bifongo is so bad!!!

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32. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    Charlotte

    28 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    28 reviews

    Dined on June 21, 2021

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Great food! We only got one shareable plate and 2 appetizers. Enough food for 5 of us, to good eaters 2 not too much. Food was great!

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33. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    Dallas

    1 review

    vip
    2.0

    1 review

    Dined on June 16, 2021

    overall2food2service2ambience3

    It was okay. Not the best food or atmosphere we had in Old San Juan, but many restaurants were closed or had a very long wait.

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34. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    Chicago

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on June 15, 2021

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    This was our first time at Vaca Brava and had a great meal and experience! If you are on Viejo San Juan, this is a must!

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35. SS

    SalvatoreS

    New York Area

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on June 14, 2021

    overall5food5service4ambience4

    The food was amazing. I had the Chuleta Kan kan. Amazing

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36. J

    Jaxgirl2015

    Jacksonville

    19 reviews

    5.0

    19 reviews

    Dined on June 12, 2021

    overall5food5service4ambience5

    Great food.waitress was a little bit slow. Overall great experience. Highly recommend it. You have to try the Chuleta Kan Kan

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37. L

    Ligia

    San Francisco

    2 reviews

    2.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on June 12, 2021

    overall2food1service3ambience1

    I was honestly impressed because the sides of the food were flavorless (flavourless beans, greasy mofongo and poor presentation, sagging tostones) the only good thing was the meat "churrasco and kan kan". There were no comfortable chairs, it was difficult to sit for a long time. I had a good time in Barranquitas twice, but at Recinto Sur we did not enjoy our stay and food.

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38. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    1 review

    1.0

    1 review

    Dined on June 11, 2021

    overall1food1service1ambience1

    The food was not good or seasoned at all, wait time to get drinks was over 30 mins, by the time we ate and finished asked for the check, water was just brought to us. Food took over an hour

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39. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    Philadelphia

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on June 10, 2021

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Birthday and high-school graduation

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40. SM

    SuilmarieM

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on June 9, 2021

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Excelente el mesero con 10 mesas a cargo y total control

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