Do you have the post spring break blues? Do you find yourself imagining that the snow outside your window is actually soft warm sand? Do you wish you could somehow go back to lying in the sun and eating delicious island-fresh food? Well look no further, Vejigantes is the place for you.
This authentic Puerto Rican restaurant has the power to transport you back to your Caribbean trip. The back wall is even painted with images of tropically colored doorways found on Puerto Rican buildings; and lively vejigante masks hang from the walls making you feel like you’ve escaped to San Juan.
Photo by Aarthi Chezian
You can’t go to Vejigantes without ordering a cocktail. Their menu consists of traditional drinks done well, like cosmos and piña coladas, to exotic drinks, like their Patron chata and sangria made with their secret ingredient (which I have not yet managed to squeeze out of them). The frozen tamarindo margarita is a must have, the tamarind is a sweet and sour fruit with a unique flavor and here it’s accented by rimming the glass with chili pepper.
Photo by Aarthi Chezian
But the real reason you should go to vejiantes is the food. With authentic flavors and colorful, vibrant dishes that are beautifully prepared and presented, this place leaves you with a happy tummy. The ceviche de mero should be your go to dish if you want to recreate that island feel. It’s refreshing and the fish is perfectly marinated in a delicious citrus juice with tomatoes and green peppers.
If you’re looking for a true authentic Puerto Rican dish, the mofongo tradicional de platano or de yuca is for you. It’s a must-try for first-time visitors who want to claim to have sampled a true Puerto Rican dish. Essentially, mofongo is a mashed mound of plantains or yuca and usually a combination of seafood, meat or vegetables is added.
Photo by Aarthi Chezian
And of course you can’t forget dessert. Vejigantes’ tres leches cake is the real deal, and this is coming from someone with very high standards for tres leches. It’s perfectly moist and will make you say mmm when it first touches your tongue. So next time your feeling the need for a tropical getaway, escape to Vejigantes.
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