Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
ESPERANZA
El Quenepo
INTERNATIONAL $$
( 787-741-1215; 148 Calle Flamboyán; dishes $20-32; dinner Tue-Sun mid-
Nov-Easter &Wed-Sun Easter-Aug)
The destination restaurant of Vieques, Esperanza's
upscale El Quenepo has a lovely interior and an equally delectable menu. The food is catch-
of-the-day fresh - a family of seven brothers supplies the seafood - and the decor is very
chic. A few suggestions to get your mouth watering: whole Caribbean lobsters,
mofongo
(mashed plantains) made with breadfruit grown in its backyard and a lovely
churrasco
(charcoal-broiled Argentinean steak). Reservations highly recommended.
Duffy's
RESTAURANT $
( Calle Flamboyán; dishes $10-13; lunch & dinner; )
At this convivial bar open-
ing out onto Esperanza's main strip, the laid-back street atmosphere infiltrates the shady
interior where expats and locals mingle over microbrew beer paired with wraps, fish tacos
or burgers (including the meat-free variety). For tasty food, upright prices and good com-
pany, look no further.
Trade Winds
CARIBBEAN $$
( Calle Flamboyán; dishes $5-24)
Unpretentious dining at its finest. Sit back in a wide
chair on the breezy verandah and enjoy scrumptious scrambled eggs or island-spiced fish
and meat dishes later in the day.
Belly Button's
BREAKFAST $
( Calle Flamboyán; dishes $5-10; breakfast & lunch, sporadic dinner)
Consisting
of a small collection of alfresco tables located outside a kitchen trailer on the
malecón,
this
expat-run breakfast phenomenon conjures up enough food to keep you going until 6pm.
Order a mug of gourmet coffee, season your eggs with locally made and sweat-inducing
Komodo Dragon hot sauce, and make plans for a day of breathtaking action - or indolence.
Bananas
RESTAURANT $
(CalleFlamboyán;dishes$9-12; lunch&dinner)
More popular for drinks than din-
ner, Bananas weighs in with excellent salads, sandwiches and seafood, as well as inexpens-
ive daily specials. Its upstairs bar has sigh-worthy water views.
