Myself and some friends headed out to Puerto Plata on a typical hot, steamy Thursday evening in Jax and started off with some delicious Sangria ($3.50 per glass). It was sweet, but not too sweet, with a nice kick to it. The only thing that would have made it better, is if they scooped some fresh fruit into each glass.
Yours Truly being goofy
We opted to share a couple of appetizers. We ordered the Tostones ($2.25) which are fried green plantains served with a tasty garlic sauce and an Empanada De Pollo ($2.75). The Empanada is a fried pastry turnover filled with shredded chicken and veggies and is also available in beef. The plantains were hot, fresh and plentiful. The Empanada was a bit on the dry side, but nothing an extra side of garlic sauce couldn't cure.
After appetizers, we were ready for them to bring on the entrees! Most dinners come with a small tossed salad with house dressing (garlicy Italian-style vinaigrette) and your choice of yellow or white rice and red or black beans. We ordered the Pernil ($8.95 Roast Pork), Camarones Al Ajillo ($10.95 Garlic Shrimp) and the Ceviche con Tostones ($10.95 Shrimp marinated in citrus juice with diced onions, tomatoes and spices and served with fried green plantains).
Pernil
Camarones Al Ajillo
Ceviche con Tostones
The pork was tender and flaky and topped with sautéed onions. I ordered the Camarones Al Ajillo (Garlic Shrimp) and was pleased. I really enjoyed both the garlic sauce on the shrimp and the yellow rice. I can see how some people might expect larger and more plentiful shrimp, but I felt the portions were fair for the price. The citrus marinade on the Ceviche was refreshing and a nice compliment to the shrimp.
All in all, we enjoyed our meal. The atmosphere is comfortable and great for families. The service, while I won't rave on and on about it, was decent.
Next time I go back, I'm trying the Cuban Sandwich or the Chivo (Goat Stew) for something different!
2045 Blanding Blvd | Jacksonville, FL 32210
(904) 388-5888
Menu:
http://www.allmenus.com/fl/jacksonville/209984-puerto-plata-resturant-/menu/
Karoake Saturday Evenings 10 PM – 2 AM
Happy Hour on Sundays 2 PM – 6PM
Share this article
RSS
DavidWilliams
August 25, 2009, 02:38:20 PMSounds good. Is this the place in Lakeshore that was a Chinese restaurant for many years?
stephElf
August 25, 2009, 02:53:28 PMIt's in Ortega on Blanding, very close to San Juan.
*edit - Perhaps that actually is considered Lakeshore?
mandy6488
August 25, 2009, 03:14:27 PM*edit - Perhaps that actually is considered Lakeshore?
Yeah, it is Lake Shore/Lakeshore (however you spell it), Mrs Steph Says!
stephElf
August 25, 2009, 03:17:19 PMAhh thanks for the clarification Mandy! It is a hop, skip and a jump from Ortega though and literally 2.5 minutes from the Publix Shopping Plaza at 17 & San Juan.
stephenc
August 25, 2009, 03:55:26 PMHorrible place. I ate there a few years ago with several Dominican friends. The staff was very rude and food was over priced. The Jags happened to be playing and I asked them to turn the tv on to watch the game. The waitress said no, then walked off. No explanation or anything. I ate there again on Sunday with the same friends because I was told the staff had changed. WRONG!!! Ordered the Arroz con Pollo for $9.25. Got about a pound of rice and about 7 half dollar size pieces of chicken in it. My friends had to ask several times for water and the waitress kept ignoring them till I got up and ask the staff in the back for some. Granted the food is pretty good, but with rude staff forget it. This place doesn't have refills either. If you order a soda for $1 you will get a glass of ice and a can of soda. I love my Spanish food but will NEVER go to this place again.
stephElf
August 25, 2009, 04:01:31 PMThat stinks! I had a similar experience at Havana Jax.. but it was mainly because of a language barrier... our meal from A - Z was botched and annoying... It has been a while though and would give them a second chance - the food was good.
stephendare
August 25, 2009, 06:21:59 PMThe Ceviche looks good.
Fallen Buckeye
August 25, 2009, 06:42:22 PMI've been there and I liked it. Then again I eat just about anything. The server was nice enough when I was there, too.
mandy6488
August 31, 2009, 05:18:34 PMI've been there twice and never had a problem with the service. It wasn't the best in town but it wasn't horrible. I think any issues were because of the language barrier.
The food is tasty and I don't think it is overpriced at all. I got the roast pork, like Steph mentioned and had plenty to eat and leftovers for the next day.
I do wish the Sangria had fruit in it.
ChriswUfGator
September 05, 2009, 02:22:27 PMThis place hasn't been there that long, and definitely wasn't there several years ago. I think you're thinking about the seedy Mex/Latin place that was there before Puerto Plata.
The location has always been a restaurant as long as I've been here. First it was some seedy Chinese place that closed down, then around 2001 it became a seedy Mex/Latin place, which closed down. Then it sat vacant for awhile, and maybe a year or so ago it became Puerto Plata.
But it has changed hands a bunch of times, and based on the timeframe you're referring to, it's not possible that the current restaurant is the one you went to. PP is maybe a year'ish old, or something like that. I remember watching the renovations take place when I'd drive by there.
I've never eaten there and don't know them, so I'm certainly not defending them with this post, but that was definitely a different restaurant when you went there.
DetroitInJAX
September 19, 2009, 08:56:56 PMI just recently went to Puerto Plata within the last week.. This place was recommended to me by a coworker who is Dominican, as is her husband.. So I decided to try it out.. I dragged along a Colombian and a Nicaraguan and we went for it.... All 3 of us had the arroz con pollo and were equally impressed... I eat mine with ketchup (the ONLY way to have it).. We also ordered Plantains and they were cooked just right. I was very impressed with the upkeep of the building, the furnishings, staff friendliness, and prices were very reasonable for the amount of food you get.
Also, regarding the refills on soda.. This is somewhat of an American thing... If you've ever traveled to S. America or Europe, you never get free refills. This is not an American restaurant.
Free refills are part of the reason this country is so fat anyway.