Santaella

It is no coincidence that chef José Santaella’s rustic-chic restaurant is less than a block from La Placita, San Juan’s farmer’s market. The dining room tables overlook an interior greenhouse-type garden and a playful flora-themed mural decorates the bar area. Here, fresh, local and whole are the name of the game, and sharing is too.

With a few exceptions, the dishes on the menu are arranged from smallest to largest, encouraging diners to choose based on the highlighted flavors and ingredients that appeal to them, instead of following formulaic courses in succession. This style of service not only makes the appearance and preparation of each dish a potential surprise, but also changes the function of a meal, which is no longer an obligatory affair, but a communal experience.