Location: La Central, 250 Convention Blvd, San Juan, PR, 00907
https://distritot-mobile.com/la-central-by-mario-pagan
Date Tasted: 3/22/2024 (Saturday) (dinner)
Price: $18
Beverage: Chopin Martini, dry, blue cheese olives
When you sit down at a shiny new high-dollar steakhouse in a vibrant part of town, it’s fair to have high expectations when you see beef carpaccio on the “bar bites” section of the menu.
Though the description from the menu says “tostada” I wrote it off as being a part of jazzy Puerto Rican vernacular and proceeded without caution. After subsequent research, sourdough crostini does not qualify as a tostada in any respect.
When the plate hit the table it wasn’t immediately evident how much was wrong with this dish. It was certainly appealing looking, nice presentation, if a bit spartan. But once one starts to poke around, one notices what is missing and what was substituted.
Brussels sprouts instead of lettuce/greens/arugula. Sadly, if you’ve ever had to eat brussels spouts, you no doubt have ascertained that they have a very “unique” flavor. Sort of dirty. Like dirt. Especially when raw. Not a good take here.
Bread (sourdough) as in crostini just didn’t work here. Sometimes it can.
The aioli (“Horseradish Cream Pecorino”) cut through everything, it’s all you could taste, way overdressed.
Needed salt desperately, yet I gave up waiting for the server to return and was left to pretend in my mind that it was saltier.
The Parmesan was at last, appropriate, the only star component in this sorry rendition. The menu claims there is a coffee rub, but it must have taken the night off. It was a nice night to be off, I suppose.
It was so bad I don’t remember what the meat was like. That’s saying something. I imagine that there was some present.
Overall Score: 2/10 – Definitely would not get again nor recommend.
