Overview
Fine dining restaurants are an experience that we love to enjoy. Marmalade in San Juan is a great example. Unlike some tasting-only menus, you get a choice of each course – and each party can make separate choices. Love this. While their menu doesn’t change every day (like our recent visit to Clarity outside Washington, DC) and there is no a la carte, the selections were prepared well, paired well, presented well, generously portioned, and quite tasty. Marmalade will be on our short list each time we are in San Juan.
Marmalade is well reviewed on almost every travel site out there, so it was a must try for us while we were in San Juan. The five-course fixed menu (groups of six can enjoy a 14-course menu) allows choices for each course to fit your palate, which is a great feature for tasting menus.
The restaurant was contemporary and attractive. We received one of the corner tables which was comfortable, welcoming, and provided a view of the happenings within the restaurant. It was a very romantic setting, and the table was decorated with flower petals for a special occasion. The music was noticeable and energetic but not so loud you couldn’t have a conversation.
Our server was attentive and came quickly. We chose our selections and the wine pairings. Wines were different for each of us to accommodate our different food choices. We had nine different dishes between the two of us. All were on point. We did share the same item for a course — the white bean soup — not because we ordered it, but rather it comes as a course with all meals. We would have skipped it since it didn’t sound too appealing, but they say it’s their signature dish and other reviews have indicated it’s a must have item. Wow! What a pleasant surprise — it was fantastic!
Appetizer
Our two appetizers were the “Popcorn Shrimp” and the “Paella”. The presentations were quite unique and memorable.
“Popcorn Shrimp” was garlic and cilantro grilled shrimp covered with añejo tequila atop guacamole and heirloom ancho chili spiced popcorn paired with a 2021 Gustave Lorentz, Qui L’eut Cru? (yes, it has the question mark), Sylvaner-Gewurztraminer Pinot Gris which was a lovely orange wine. It was an excellent pairing with the spicy popcorn that accompanied the shrimp.
The quirky interpretation of paella were small bite-sized (they called “sushi-esque”) pieces of crispy Andalusian style paella filled with smoked chicken, peas, and peppers flavored with a saffron-garlic foam and a chorizo-tomato emulsion. It was paired with a 2022 Bodegas Garon, Albarino Reserva from Uruguay,
Intermediate
Duck Duck Goose was a slowly braised duck legs and roasted honey crisp apples partnered with duck sausage, shredded caraway cabbage all bound with a goose liver sauce and gratineed under a veil of celery root puree and crumbled chestnut. It was paired with a wonderful Wine Spectator top 100 wines, a 2021 Pico Maccario, Lavignone, Barbera D’Asti DOCG. The flavors went together beautifully and had a complex yet surprisingly light taste.
Saffron Linguini , a homemade pasta dish topped with little neck clams and blue crab seasoned with basil, bottarga and a hint of chili was superbly paired with Monte del Frà, Verdicchio, Lugana DOC, 2022.
Soup
As mentioned, we weren’t necessarily looking forward to the bean course – however, it was just plain ole fabulous. Not sure how they make bean soup taste so good – ok… sure we do… the truffles! The “Tiny White Bean Soup” was served with scallions, black truffle oil, and pancetta dust served with an excellently paired 2016 Thibault Liger-Belair, Chardonnay, Les Charmes, Bourgogne,
Entree
We both went with some robust proteins for our main courses – pork and beef.
Pasture Raised Hormone-free Beef Tenderloin. The steak was served atop a roasted garlic-potato puree along with creamed kale, garden green beans and hedgehog mushrooms. It was wonderfully paired with another top 100 wine, the 2021 DeLille Mètier, Cabernet Sauvignon from Columbia Valley.
The Three Pigs, seared pork belly glazed with honey with a braised pork cheek and rice was paired with St. Andrea, Áldás Egri Bikavér Superior, Bull’s Blood, Eger, 2018.
Dessert
We each had a dessert – one was the Miso Caramel Crème Brûlée. Very interesting presentation of gingered mandarins and black sesame ice cream and was paired with 2017 Erzébet Pince, Furmint, Tokaji Late Harvest from 2017.
Choco-L8 – eight different textures and flavors of local organic chocolate culminating with the accent of hazelnuts & fresh raspberries – Santa Sofia, Recioto della Valpolicella, 2011. While this was good, it was not the home run our chocoholic eater would have liked. That said, it wasn’t bad! The presentation was on point.
Our server was top notch. As well as excellent service throughout our dinner, she also provided a list of taxi telephone numbers to us from her phone in case we had issues getting back to our hotel due to the Fiestas de la Calle San Sebastián street festival in progress.
Because we booked through Open Table, they must have determined we were there to celebrate a birthday, even without us specifying, and even provided a handwritten and signed card from the staff as a keepsake. With the opportunity to select our own tasting experience, the excellent wine pairings, and the wonderful service, we will certainly be back on our next trip to San Juan and recommend it highly for anyone who enjoys a fine dining experience. Since, you’re likely drinking while you’re here consider staying close at the nice Palacio Provincial Hotel in Old San Juan.
Marmalade Restaurant and Wine Bar
317 C. de la Fortaleza, San Juan, Puerto Rico 00901
https://www.marmaladepr.com/
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