Puerto Rico - East Coast

After a fantastic time exploring and eating at all the fabulous restaurants in Old san Juan, as well as a gorgeous time on Vieques where the W served up some globally inspired dishes, the eastern coast of Puerto Rico has great golf courses, some dive destinations but absolutely no good food!

Seriously, driving up and down the coast to get from the beach to the ferry, the small towns are littered with fast food joints, American style steakhouse or some sub-par version of pollo loco that is almost embarrassing. Processed foods, canned goods from the states and bland tasteless options everywhere. Even Yelp, 4square, YPages, google, frommers, fodor's, opentable, Where, LocalEats, Urbanspoon, did not find edible food. Foodspotting came to the rescue with some visuals from the northeastern Gran melia hotel... Or word of the newly opened St Regis in Bahia (northern shore) may be worth the trip out.

Classic examples of American fast food corporatism spreading it's dietary influence is prevalent in puerto rico's Eastern, central and western area where Pharma manufacturing plants and developer dominated mega shopping centers rule amongst the spreckled residential pockets.

For example, the all u can eat Sizzler equivalent Bonanza was a horse's trough of all the unhealthy fried fritters, dried out rice, and even the side fish was overcooked and unimpressive:





The mofongo has to be the islands worst... Dried out and bland.. It was only $1 so returning it was not an option:






Breakfast items are even less impressive in the eastern shore. It's all imported from the states so of it's not packaged, microwaveable or dehydrated, can't expect much..

Iowa farm fresh eggs with Texan Con Agra tortillas:





Not even la Victoria salsa served with it brought it flavors...
And cholula was not even heard of!

Hope was sought off of the little streets for some local fare, a taco truck or a gorditas truck... Surprisingly no Mexican-ish foods to be found... Then a sighting of a local taco place:






Only to have fried meat under a heat lamp that looked about 2 days old! Oh my, we jumped back into the car faster than you can say hot tamale!

Chili's surprisingly was the only place that offered fresh lettuce and real vegetables! To imagine...

Grilled Shrimp ceasar came with a bucket of dressing to the side, but at least the romaine was freshly imported:





The grilled chicken with rice and steamed veggies was not half bad!





Of all the places, almost been 20 yrs since stepped into one (well except that one time serving on a Pharma contract to a visit an Indianapolis corporate HQ where an applebee's was the only option... Lol)..

Once off Vieques or out of Old San Juan, if you are not in one of the golf resorts, a foodie may have a challenging time...

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