El Pescador

So much food! We wound up sharing 2 appetizers (chorizo & mini panko-​snapper fillets with lobster salad) and 1 main dish (hogfish steaks) and it was more than enough! Food was excellent. The paper menu is basic, most of the information came directly from the server. It would have been nice to have a «daily» menu to peruse, rather than keeping everything in mind when ordering. The drinks (sangria and mojito) were good, but a little on the sweet side. Such nice atmosphere, sitting outside with a fresh breeze. Luckily, no mosquitoes! Would definitely go again. A bit pricey.
(The hogfish is a white fish that’s denser than cod/​flounder/​halibut. It comes in steaks, rather than fillets. It looks similar to swordfish, but does not taste like it. I would say it’s less dense than swordfish, with a much different flavor. There are plenty of bones, so be on the look-​out)

Disappointing. The sides were the best part. Hog fish steaks — billed as similar to swordfish — were overcooked and filled with pin bones, making it very difficult to eat and a potential hazard (swordfish generally doesn’t have pin bones, just a large, easy-​to-​spot central bone, which the hog fish also had). For $ 29, they could train servers to warn us about the pin bones — particularly as the server put a «bone dish» on the table — or do a better job removing them in the kitchen.
Plates were more than generous and nicely presented. Rice with veg was a hit, and the salad, adorned with pecans and dried cranberries and very nicely dressed, was probably the highlight of the plate.

Excellent food, great service. My wife, daughter and I had a fantastic dinner on our last night of a wonderful vacation.

Lovely presentation on all food. Service so friendly and pleasant. Bringing the live spiny lobster over to each table to take photos is really cute. The kids especially loved it.
Red sangria with pineapple was absolutely delicious. Classic Mojitos really good too.
Lobster in garlic sauce, lobster in criolla sauce and shrimp in garlic sauce were all done very well. Too many pieces of shell in our de-​shelled lobster though.
Great ambiance and décor. Would recommend and return.

We ended up here since we were staying at the Wyndham Resort and Kioskos is one of the closest places to the resort.
We had heard good things about the place but were left pretty blah with regards to the food. The lobster, highly priced, was overcooked and the ribs had it not been for the sauce would had left much to be desired.
The cocktails were ok, but just ok.
We didn’t feel the high price was justified.
The service was also just ok.
With so many places in Kioskos to choose from this would definitely not be in my list to try again. I felt it was very much a tourist trap.

I had the distinct pleasure of visiting Angel at his El Pescador food truck/​restaurant last week while making my annual Super Bowl «party» to La Concha Hotel Feb.03 to 10^th, 2016.
First of all, the fresh fish and lobster we had was exceptional. What a treat. The service was top notch, something that I would expect from a top tier restaurant in any major city in the US.
I called Angel a week before and asked if he could handle a group of 13. All he asked was that we arrive early. We arrived at 5:30 after an hour and a half charter van drive from El Condado area of San Juan. We were sat immediately upon arriving. Drinks were served along with endless appetizers.
I cannot recommend this restaurant enough. Out of the way only adds to the adventure of finding his little gem on the beach in Fajardo Puerto Rico.
Can’t wait till next Super Bowl Party or whenever I go to PR.
Thanks Angel and staff.

The hype and all the 5 star reviews for this place is simply mind boggling. During my vacation to Puerto Rico (I travel to PR frequently) I try to eat at the best reviewed places on Unilocal.Naturally I stumbled onto el pescador and given the amazing reviews I drove 50 minutes out of my way to try this place. Ultimately, it was a disappointment.
Firstly, the seafood itself was fairly good and did taste fresh. This place distinguishes itself as serving only what is caught earlier that day. However, eating at numerous seafood restaurants in PR most of the seafood tastes just as fresh. Therefore, this is not an advantage point to me. The salad was also fresh and I enjoyed it. A complementary cup of soup was served; it was okay. My main dish was mofongo, a native dish to PR, which was executed poorly. The plantains tasted bland with a play doh like texture. If you want the best mofongo in PR go to Punot de Vista in San Juan. Additionally, the waiters made several mistakes including bringing wrong dishes and drinks to my table. The bathroom consists of a construction like portable toilet with a sink located outside.
Given the high prices I expected great food, great service and nice amenities, which el pescador lacked in all fields. For approximately 35 dollars an entrée I expect much more. It appears that most of the people leaving these stellar reviews are gringos (tourists) who have not tried other seafood places in PR.
In summary, this place did not live up to the Unilocal review hype; it was overpriced and simply did not deliver as expected. I will not be coming back here and for that reason I have rated it at 2 stars.

Que rico es volver, a comer en el pescador, siempre hay algo nuevo, que pueda disfrutar mi paladar… si no lo has visitado no has probado las ricas delicias que tiene el pescador, que bueno y agradable es ver tantos turistas extranjeros comentar lo delicioso que se comer ahi, chicas pídalen a sus parejas que las lleven lo van a pasar super, prueben las ricas y diferentes sangrías y el nuevo aperitivo de pescado fresco y langosta, se votan con sus delicias, soy admiradora y disfruto la exelencia, y la calidad de los mariscos frescos y las exquisitas carnes rojas de primera calidad. Felicito al Pescador y su exelente equipo de trabajo, exito!!!

I had the catch of the day. It was hogfish and wonderfully done. Staff was extremely nice. The whole place is very unique in terms of décor and ambiance. The red sangria was out of this world. The staff brings in the fresh fish or lobster for you to see and approve prior to preparation of the dish. All is fresh. The lobster are kept alive in a tank. Our 18 month old daughter was with us. They had a highchair but not skids menu. She loved the fried plantains and also the fish. We will be back tomorrow on our last night at the island.

Unilocal wasn’t wrong. I got shrimp in garlic sauce, and it was delicious. The menu changes based on the catch of the day. The atmosphere was casual, but the food was plated pleasing to the eye. Most importantly, everything was fresh and yummy. The soft music and breeze just added pleasant background to the main affair of delicious seafood.
We also received complimentary soup and a complimentary shot of Puerto Rican eggnog. Both were amazing!

Vegetarian review: My four family members are not vegetarian and love seafood so we ended up here based on all the great reviews. I ate lots of seafood in my past life so can appreciate it when it is fresh and properly prepared.
I ordered the Veggie Delight which was a plate of grilled asparagus, broccoli, and red peppers, a choice of rice, a fresh salad, and a plate of tostones. It was more than enough food, though seemed a bit on the expensive side at $ 29. It would have been $ 19 in most other restaurants, even on an island. Everything was sweet — I really would have liked a savory component. Instead of a light sweet marinade on the grilled veggies, a garlic sauce would have been great to balance the dish for me. I do appreciate that a restaurant like this has a dish for vegetarians (in fact, the dish was vegan I believe).
The presentation is top-​notch, and I enjoyed the atmosphere. It’s cozy with the feel of a «seafood shack» but more upscale. All of the wait staff were very friendly and service overall was very tentative.
For the non-​vegetarians, the experience here was mostly positive. They enjoyed being able to pick their own HUGE live lobsters or see the full fish before ordering it. Overall the consensus on food flavor was mostly positive. The one big complaint was that the shelled lobster was in some type of sauce with LOTS of red peppers. They really wished this was served with a simple butter sauce that let the lobster be the star of the dish more.
The bill for 5 plates, two appetizers, two sangria’s, and tip was about $ 400, so definitely on the expensive side. The portions are certainly huge — none of us finished our dishes, and no one chose terribly large fish or lobsters.
If you’re a seafood lover, you’re likely to enjoy this place.

Great place, beautiful and just what you expect in our beautiful island! Fresh fish and sea food, great concept as in everything is catch of the day! You feel at home, comfortable and at ease!
You have to hear how this jewel came to be from the owners mouth! If you are in the area and I want to have great food this is your place!

We arrived here after discovering that La Estacion was closed. It was a charming little venue — very open, airy, and lots of raw wood.
+ Comfortable seats; limited ocean view (there’s a parking lot directly in front of the place)
+ Staff very friendly and accommodating
+ Chef stopped-​in to check on our meals
+ Simple, seafood-​focused menu
+ Decent beverage selection
— Sangria’s were very «juice heavy» — not much wine taste detected
+ Tons of fresh fruit in the Sangria
+ Complimentary soup was delicious
+ Delicious churasco/​seafood appetizer («land and sea») featured fresh salad, octopus, conch, lobster, and steak in small plantain cups.
— Soooooooooooo oily. Ridiculously over-​oiled.
+ Catch of the day was hogfish; we opted for grilled «steak cuts» over fillets
— Again, the fish was grilled to perfection, but drowned in oil. Why??? Why???
— Deshelled lobster platter was overcooked (chewy) and drowned in what tasted like a sweet-​and-​sour sauce. Why??? Why???
I don’t understand why you would essentially ruin super fresh, perfectly prepared seafood by drenching it in oil and saccharin-​like sauce? Let the fish stand on its own!
Meal was expensive — $ 160 for three people after tip — but the portions were *huge*. Unless you’re a big eater (and love cups of oil on your entrée), I’d recommend sharing a platter and asking for «no oil» if possible.
So much potential — fresh greens, fresh seafood, excellent service… just missed the mark.

The restaurant was located in an area that seemed to be dominated by tourists; lots of the excursion companies were dropping people off there. Several little trinket shops surrounded the looping parking lot. If you like that idea, then El Pescador is probably a good choice for you.
The good: the service was decent. The waitress was helpful and answered all of our questions. It took a long time to get our first appetizer, however, considering that the restaurant was empty. The portions were also generous.
The bad: the food was not great. The problem with the food was that EVERYTHING was doused in oil and slathered with butter. Disgusting. The mofongo was good, but the lobster was extremely chewy, as if it had been reheated. The octopus had the same problem, and well-​prepared lobster and octopus do not have this texture. They claimed that both were from «today’s catch,» but I’m skeptical. The grouper was good, although not great. We had much better fish in other restaurants in PR.
Also, beware of the mosquitos. We were swatting at them throughout the meal. They did provide bug spray, but there has got to be a better way to deal with the issue.
When a restaurant has 100+ reviews on Unilocal and 5 stars, there is usually a good reason. I don’t know how this restaurant possibly garnered 5 stars. My gf ended up getting sick from all of the oil. To the chef: please reduce the oil and butter. There’s no reason for the excessive oil, and it ruined what would have been a nice dinner.
UPDATE: After reading Angel’s thorough response, I wanted to clear up a couple of things:
1) Angel offered to cook another meal at no charge. Generous and thoughtful gesture, but we had already left Fajardo. I can only write a review based on our experience.
2) We did complain about the oil, and asked for a replacement salad with no oil. The waitress made it seem like we were asking for huge favor, to be honest. I didn’t mention this in the original review, because I was trying to not to be overly critical. All we asked for was a plain salad so my gf would be able to eat something. The oil was that bad. The two of us spent about $ 120 on our meal before tip – a replacement salad doesn’t seem like a lot to ask for. Angel is correct – we should have sent it all back, but we don’t generally complain much. We wrote the 2-​star review, simply because we thought people should know about our experience and consider one of the several other outstanding options in the area.
3) I did reply to Angel, just not immediately after he wrote his response. I replied 2 days later.
4) Not that it really matters, but they were not flying ants. We have both flying ants and mosquitos where we live and know the difference. My gf currently has about 15 mosquito bites from that dinner. I’m sorry to hear about the ants issue starting at the same time.

The Unilocal rumors are true people, this is the place to be. Owner angel boasts about his restaurant that is 5 star worthy on Unilocal,and the food as well as ambience and experience has delivered.
Unilocal map didn’t take me there directly, took me into a neighborhood. Drive toward the ocean and you will see it along with a series of small food shacks, bio bay trips and a park.
Wait wasn’t too long luckily we were able to get right in. There menu changes as their catch changes. Catch of the day here means exactly that. Angel goes out, gets his catch and that’s the menu which he posted in Unilocal same day before we dined. The place is beautiful, rustic looking but still clean and modern. Perfect setting near the ocean. My feet got eaten alive by bugs but it sounds like they are trying to do part of the place enclosed to help with Mosquitos.
You can select your own lobster to have it cooked or order it de shelled. I felt prices were appropriate for giant portions and quality food. The mofongo churrasco was the best thing I ate on the island by far. The steak was tender and full of flavor. They have drinks, various sangrias and beer. No dessert which was a downer but chef angel says they’re working on it! One thing I would say is they would benefit from seating people rather than allowing them to pick seat. There were two couples sitting at large tables, then bigger groups had to wait. Seemed unfortunate but hey, wasn’t me!

World class food. 6 stars out of 5. The chef Angel is a trip, super nice guy. He helps let you know what the best catch of the day is. I had never tasted Conch before but it was prepared in a super tender. The chorizo appetizer had a great slightly sweet flavor with a barely detectable kick. The sangria was the best I’ve ever had.
Prior to this meal we had several meals at other restaurants that didn’t quit hit the mark. I’m glad we stopped here. Amazing restaurant!

El mejor pescado que he probado en Puerto Rico, bien fresco y con un sabor único. El servicio es excelente, deben visitarlo.

Call ahead bc the hours do change daily depending on when the owner gets back from catching fresh food!
But other than that it was awesome. The décor was very pleasant and it is family owned. The owner is a bit into himself but very entertaining.
Make sure you come hungry and early. The restaurant is very tiny and seating is limited. The portions are out of this world and everything is delicious. I highly recommend the mofongo and fresh sangria!

What can i possibly say about this place that hasn’t been said already?
Went on a little birthday vacation with my GF and we stayed at the El Conquistador Resort. We had traveled all over the island looking for some authentic Puerto Rican food. Found some hits and misses around the island but it wasnt until our last night that we found this hidden gem… AND it was less then a mile from our resort.
The décor is AWESOME! Driftwood pendant lights over each table, tree stump stools and tables with glass tops, very classy for an outdoor bistro. You totally wouldn’t expect something so nice especially with its surrounding «food establishments». :)
Service was a little delayed as there was only one waitress working the, maybe, 10 tables there. She did take the time to explain how this location is new to them and they are still working out the kinks as they have had to move from a food truck to a static location in only 8 months (at the time of this review) because of popularity.
No printed menus, at the time, our waitress verbally tells you whats available. I ordered the Grilled Skirt Steak w/​Mofongo and when it came out, i was blown away at the presentation. You would expect so see that at a 5 star restaurant not at a seaside bistro.
My girlfriend opted the seasonally available fish. It is served whole, so watch out for the bones!
The portions are HUGE, so either come hungry or get a plate to share!
If you ever have the opportunity to make your way to Puerto Rico, def make this a must do on your check list. Why Andrew Zimmern didnt make Pescador one of his stops while he was the PR, I will never know.
Enjoy!

I couldn’t be more happier than enjoy everything here.
Excellent Food with Wonderful People.
Left PR for a week but still thinking about this place
Come to check it out and you will understand, what I’m talking about

/TL;DR
Hands down best meal I had in Puerto Rico. Food is fresh — as in caught that morning and prepared at a chef’s culinary level. It’s going to be one of the more expensive meals in PR but well worth it. Loved it.
/​ATMOSPHERE
I hope you like whatever the weather is that day because you’re going to have little choice. It’s al fresco all the way. However, truly outdoor seating with the bay next to you? Can’t top it.
/​FOOD
You are going to be amazed at what comes out of that little kitchen. We went with the red snapper filet and a side of mofongo. Ended up splitting up and glad we did. It was humungous. The filet was a thick cut of fish with sauteed vegetables spiced perfectly with a hint of sweetness. The mofongo was moist and delicious.
I would recommend getting one their white sangrias if it’s available. White wine mix and fruit — such as fresh pineapple made a little stand right next to you. Great stuff.
/​SERVICE
So friendly. Angel explained everything from the catch, sourcing as much healthy and organic material as possible, and the import costs that go into the price. He has an infectious personality. Hard not to like the guy.
HOW TO READ MY REVIEWS:
1 Star — Does not approach edible. Enter at your own risk.
2 Stars — If I’m in the area, I’d pick something else.
3 Stars — I would stop by if I happen to be in the area.
4 Stars — I would pick this place out of other places nearby.
5 Stars — I would go out of my way to dine here.

Angel, Angel, Angel– you had me at hello.
I crush on this man’s food, fishing skills, and sangria.
I had no idea what to expect, but read that this was the best place to eat in Puerto Rico, and that my friend is not a lie. What you read about this place is all true. 100%
You can not get a dining experience like this anywhere else.
LOCATION: This place is located in the bio bay in Fajardo. You should text the number that is listed and see if El PESCADOR is open that day. Angel was so helpful that he even texted me pictures of where his stand was located. Because el pescador was not coming up on gps when I entered it in my iphone.
I would suggest texting what time he will be open, and arrive promptly, otherwise expect a long wait!
When you arrive find some street parking and walk over to where all the bio bay people have their kayaks. There you will find the El PESCADOR SIGN! and REJOICE.
Angel the owner/​chef greeted us warmly and explained the concept of his restaurant, if he doesn’t have three catches of the day he simply does not open.
He catches the lobster himself, and often trades with the fisherman to get their fresh fish or conch.
We ordered the 3 catches of the day, lobster, hog fish, and conch.
I’m not a huge fan of conch, but the hog fish and lobster were the favorites of our meal they basically are dosed in garlicky, yummy goodness. Who doesn’t love garlic… like who, tell me who, and I will hunt them down. I will say that the sauces can be kind of on the sweeter side, which I assume is his thing, which is fine by me!
SERVED WITH UNLIMITED SIDES, like is the man crazy?! Because all the sides are so good aka: rice, mofongo, salad, fried plantains, the bread. Each platter comes with all of these sides, and the presentation is like tropical paradise just perched up on your plate.
If I lived in Puerto Rico I would frequent this place often, and suffer through the strong sulfur smell of the bio bay.
LET ME TELL YOU: the sangria is the dopest sangria, I’ve ever had. Period. End Sentence. Everyone must drink this sangria, the white one and red one so good. I preferred the white. The fresh fruits in the sangria and presentation, like hello hello hello you guys are bombtastic.
I just can’t so many feels right now thinking about this place… Angel!!! You are a mastermind!