El Nuevo Acuario

Before I drove to the restaurant which was 40 minutes away from my hotel I called and spoke to Leo. He was very informative over the phone and told me they could accommodate a gluten allergy. He also mentioned three specific items on the menu that I couldn’t have and assured me everything else could be prepared gluten free. When we arrived at the restaurant we sat at the bar. Our waitress Odrix was amazing. I told her I had a gluten allergy and she shared that she also had an allergy. She’s allergic to almonds so she knew exactly where I was coming from. She confirmed the same three items that Leo had told me I couldn’t have which was very reassuring. She also gave me some great recommendations. She suggested the seafood salad which was amazing and the red snapper. This ended up being my best dining experience in Puerto Rico. I ate at several restaurants during my trip including at the resort where we stayed and they basically all said all we have is salad. This place truly stood out for its service understanding and flavorful gluten free options.

We made the mistake of waiting until day four of our trip to come here—don’t repeat our error; come here immediately! Everything was delicious, from the drinks and appetizers to the main courses and desserts. Every bite is packed with the flavor and authentic Puerto Rican culture you’re looking for. I wish I’d taken better photos, but honestly, pictures don't do this food justice. The owners, Leo and Alejandra, made the experience even better by sharing fantastic recommendations for their own dishes as well as other local gems to explore. They were incredibly generous and hospitable! If you love seafood, you have to start with the Seafood Sampler as your appetizer (we also got the beef empanadas which were delicious!) We ordered piña coladas, mojitos, a passion fruit margarita and even tried their sangria. They make everything in house. Every drink was carefully crafted and perfectly balanced! We ordered the red snapper, jumbo shrimp with ceviche styled mofongo, the creole chicken, and the kan kan pork chop. We finished with their three orders of flan: coconut, vanilla, and queso. Absolutely nothing about this meal disappointed. This is a must-visit

Do yourself a favor: if you’re flying into San Juan, make this your first or last stop. This place is a true gem. The food is absolutely incredible authentic flavors that will blow your mind. The service is just as impressive. The staff was warm and welcoming, and the chef even came out personally to check on the meal. I honestly ate like a pig because I had to try everything. The spicy red snapper is to die for, and the lobster empanadas are so good they’ll make you want to slap your mama. Don’t forget to order the rice and beans as a side they’re the perfect complement to the meal. This spot is a must. You won’t regret it.

We’ve tried so many dishes and still can’t pick a favorite. Everything we’ve tried has been wonderful and some of the best we’ve since we’ve been here. I didn’t realize how much I loved mofongo until I tried all the varieties they offer. Plus the absolute best Chicken strips on the island!!! I highly recommend adding this to your “Must Do” list in Puerto Rico.

A spectacular place, the food was incredible, and the sangrias were 20/10. I have to highlight the service provided by both waitresses; the place was full, and they provided excellent service. 🍷

Very good sea food! Red snapper was amazing! Order rice and beans as a side. You won’t regret it. Great service!

Really enjoyed this hidden secret... The seafood was amazing and such great service.. Odr provided such great service allowing us to really embrace the culture... Odr... For a second thought was the manager She was great. Need a raise. We will be back again.

This is the 3rd time I’ve returned to El Nuevo Acuario on a trip to PR. It never fails to amaze me, the food and service are always on point. I ordered the Kan-Kan platter and my friend ordered the small Red Snapper with two margaritas, which we both really enjoyed all of it. When we were done, the restaurant was closing and we were still waiting for our Lyft (pro tip/hack: order your ride in advance to avoid the long wait in the evening) but luckily the owner was nice enough to come over and talk to us and reassured us it wasn’t an issue. I would DEF recommend dinning at this restaurant. I will continue to be a loyal patron of El Nuevo Acuario each time I visit beautiful PR!

Whenever I travel, I spend way too much time researching restaurants on Yelp. I may bookmark 50 places for a three day trip. El Nuevo Acuario stood out as the place I was most excited about based upon my research. I wasn't wrong. it's terrific. I don't often start reviews going on and on about the service. But the service at El Nuevo was top tier. It was a slower night because we visited off season. Our server was wonderful. She was joyful, genuine, helpful, friendly, efficient. Everything you would ever want in a server. Maybe the best service I've had all year. But that is only part of the story. I think the owner appreciated how excited we were to be there and that we love good food, and he decided to sit with us for while to talk about food and other things. He went way above and beyond and made us feel very special. The food was of course very good too. My wife ordered the paella dish, which would have been my order, but I have a thing about not ordering the same dish as someone, especially for a first visit like this. She let me try it and it was very good. I was hoping to order the Seafood Sampler (which looked great in pics) as an appetizer, but my wife and son wanted to go with the coconut shrimp. So I decided to order it as my dinner instead. In real life, it looked a lot bigger than it did in pics. It was huge. It had fried calamari, shrimp and octopus seafood salad, fried Mofongo Balls and Firecracker Grouper. The MVP of the plate was the acidic seafood salad. The shrimp and octopus were tasty and tender. And the acidity was exactly what was needed to balance the flavors of the rest of the dish. The Firecracker Grouper was one of the big draws for me because you don't often see Grouper in the Northeast US. It's a substantial fish and El Nuevo executed the textures and flavors well. The fried calamari was tender and great. I had Mofongo earlier in the day, so I just tried it and focused on the other parts of the platter. The Mofongo was good though. I wish I had a few different meals to explore more of the menu. El Nuevo Acuario really is a special place and I highly recommend you include it in your San Juan area dining plans. Also, Fun Fact -- it's located in a Food Park area which would be fun to explore as well. Five Enthusiastic Stars.

We were looking for a dinner spot on Christmas night and found this place that accepted reservations. It was not available online, but I called and it was no problem getting in. It is located in a fun little beachside town with lots of energy and other shops, restaurants, and bars. The parking was crowded, but easy in the shared lot. We were seating immediately and got to ordering. We noticed some of the prices were different on the english side of the menu vs the spanish side... I got a pina colada of course and it was decent, nothing too special. We ended up getting a bunch of appetizers to share for our meal. Most of it was fried and it wasn't too greasy. We got the coconut shrimp, calamari, lobster empanadas, and the firecracker grouper. My favorite were easily the firecracker grouper and the lobster empanadas. The grouper was a unique dish and it was heavy on the sauce, which was good. The lobster empanadas had a decent amount of meat and hit the spot.

The food here is very good Highly recommend the sampler appetizer. If not the sampler, get the fire cracker grouper. It was definitely worth it. Appetizer is WAY too big though. Be careful ordering full meals on top of that. Mofongo, cilantro chicken and seafood rice were also hits.

The best sandwich I ever ate ! The pastries are delicious, and the ambiance is relaxed. The place is very small and always is busy. 100% recommended.

Amazing food! Everything delicious! The fish was top notch - we loved both the red snapper and the grouper appetizer and filet. Best tri-fungo ever. And the mojitos top notch. So glad we came. Only 5 min ride from Hampton Inn in Carolina vs venturing to San Juan. Try it - you won't be disappointed.

Came here straight from the airport... They are under construction but the place is still nice and you don't even notice work going on. It's near a busy beach with lots of places to eat. Everyone is super nice and friendly. I had a passion fruit mojito. It was so yum Coconut shrimp was tasty as was the calamari. The dipping sauce with cinnamon was interesting but it worked. I had the mixed octopus and shrimp w mofongo. There was only 3 shrimp which was disappointing but the mofongo was amazing. My bf had creole chicken and beans and rice. I had a bite and it was delish. My mil had cilantro garlic chicken. That was even better. It was a little pricy but the flavors were phenomenal. .

Don't be off put by the location. This restaurant was a tad hard to find as it's nestled among other restaurants in a local plaza. Food was fantastic and worth the exploring! Service was great. Staff was friendly, inviting, and attentive. The restaurant was clean and well kept. We got the pork chop with rice and beans. Portion was large and rice/beans were yummy. We also got a friend snapper. Fish was a good size, lots of meat, well cooked, very very tasty!

El Nuevo Acuario is a must try if you visit San Juan, Puerto Rico. It's located in the Luisa area. It is currently being renovated but do not let that scare you from trying their food and drinks. It was a bit hard to find but nestled within the corner of the plaza with other restaurants and establishments in a shared lot. We were able to dine in for dinner inside where it was cool, but we were made aware that they will begin outdoor dining again soon right in time for summer. Our server Dove, was very friendly and hospitable giving a great overview of the menu and what we could expect from the drinks, appetizers and entrees. Dacha made our drinks and they were some of the best margaritas I've tried. The margaritas were not made with syrup and had fresh fruit. We tried blackberry, strawberry and passion fruit. Passion fruit was my favorite because the fresh fruit kept getting in the straw for the other flavors. Note: The menu said that these were $10, but the actual price was $14. I was also able to try a sample of the virgin pina colada and it was great, very sweet and fresh, perfect for a dessert. For my food choices, I ordered the firecracker grouper bites, a beef empanada, and the snapper (I ordered fried but received grilled) with beans and rice. The beans were made with so much love and seasoning and no pork/meat! It was very flavorful. The grilled snapper was my least favorite of the overall meal, but it was a superb experience nonetheless. The chef came over to check on us and ask about the meal also. I thought that was great service. The appetizers were spectacular. We finished the meal with tres leches cake and it was wonderfully made. This was our best meal from the Puerto Rico trip. Some other things to note: The ladies restroom is located outside of the indoor area where we dined inside, near the bar. It is away from the kitchen and at the first door on the left and the door faces the front of some bushes and other outdoor areas to other businesses. When in doubt, go together. It has one toilet and sink. There was a stray cat lingering around the patio/outside area of the restaurant. Ubers surge in this area after dark, so prepare accordingly if you are not driving yourself. Our ride there from the t-mobile district area was about $14, and the ride back tripled. Our server mentioned, that sometimes Uber surges or refuses to service the area after a certain time. Do what's best for you and makes you feel safe.

The grouper was amazing! Super kind staff and amazing ambiance. Totally worth making the trek if you're in PR.

A wonderful dinner. If you are anywhere near El Nuevo Acuaruio during your vacation, just eat here every night. You won't find anything better. Great service.

The food is outstanding and the staff and service is great. This is a must when you travel to Puerto Rico. I had the snapper and my wife had the coconut shrimp. Everything was cooked to perfection. The drinks are made with fresh chunks of fruit. Great vibe at this place. Leonardo the owner makes sure everyone has a great meal and great time. Thanks for sharing with me and my wife other places to attend .

Holy smokes, this place is delicious!! From the cocktails to the food, everything just blew us away! To start, we ordered the blackberry mojito and piña colada. My friend stated that the piña colada was the best she's ever had! I thoroughly enjoyed my mojito as well and it took all self control not to order a second. For entrees, we had the whole red snapper and coconut shrimp. Both were divine but the standout was the red snapper. They do a very light fry and use some sort of flavorful spice mix. It was absolute perfection. As a side, I chose rice and beans. It was a great combo! The service was great as well! Our waitress was friendly and offered great suggestions! We also appreciated that the owner came over to several tables and chatted with us for a few minutes. He's quite personable, funny, and appreciative of your business. The outdoor patio of the restaurant is under construction but looks to be pretty awesome once it's done! I would come back in a heartbeat! Also, there's a large parking lot but it was pretty full when we got there around 7:30/8ish as there's a few restaurants/bars that share it. We still found a spot and worst case scenario, you'll do a few loops til someone leaves.

This place have the BEST fried red snapper and by the BEST I mean it!!! Please do yourself a favor and order it. My husband and I went here on our vacation and I still dream about the fish till this day. For app we ordered their fried calamari and it is worth ordering as they are bouncy, sweet, and scrunchy served with a tangy yummy sauce (the portion is huge!). We also ordered a lobster dish along with the fish which came with the most flavorful sauce. Everything here is just so fresh and good. The service very friendly, I felt like it is a family run bussiness. We will definitely come back here whenever we come back to PR.

I could literally almost copy/paste Joche's review below! The food was really so very good and my favorite meal in San Juan! The service by the two young ladies was quick, friendly, and engaging! We didn't get their names, but one was from Russia and the other was her second day on the job! The current temporary location (due to the renovation) is very basic, but do NOT let this discourage you. It is tucked/hidden away in the corner of the plaza. And we also experienced the surge in uber coming back. Tripled as well. We thought it was an error, but I've experienced this before in peak times, but did not consider it was tied to after dark and the area. We started off with the lobster empanadas and the shrimp cocktail. The mayo ketchup had a splash of cinnamon for the Caribbean flavor. Yummy. For our main dishes we devoured the seafood mofongo and the seafood shrimp. Packed full of amazing seafood, the flavors were perfect in our opinion. Portion size is large, so we had leftovers the next day to enjoy for lunch at our AirBnb. The cocunut and strawberry mojitos were a hit as well as a pina colada. We did not have room for dessert, but the beverages took care of that. We wanted to go back a second time, but after checking their hours, they were closed on Sat/Sun. Odd. (insert crying emjoi) :) So I will just live vicariously through our one wonderful meal here! Due to the renovations, the servers are coming from the other location with your food, so from nextdoor/outside...but...the food stayed hot. Kudos to the owner/chef for serving hot food...hot! Without question-go here and enjoy!

Ambience - 2/5 Service - 5/5 Food - 5/5 Value - 4/5 We stumbled across this place on the last day of our trip as it was right by where we were staying. We wanted fresh seafood one last time and the ratings we looked at were great. The food was fantastic. The fish was so tender and flavorful and the portions were good. They had authentic Puerto Rican food and food with a little twist. The service was fast and friendly. Inside was very boring, just tables, chairs, white walls, and a motorcycle.

Hard to notice as sign is quite faded when you pull into the parking lot. There's several restaurants and shops surrounding the area so you may not notice it. There's not a lot I didn't like about this place. The service was impeccable and friendly. The food was delicious (albeit expensive). The sauces we got with our seafood sampler platter were all excellent compliments. Personally I would just skip the platter since it's so big and just go with the grouper fish (you'll thank me) the lobster was well cooked and succulent with delicious buttery and seafood flavour. If I had to be extra picky, I'd give it a 4.5 just because it's outdoors and the heat and humidity could make it difficult to enjoy your food. The strawberry mojitos was just average but felt like it had double rum since I got drunk off it pretty fast lol.

What an extraordinary meal. First, the cocktails: We got strawberry, blackberry, blueberry, and coconut mojitos - each one made with fresh fruit and no "mixers" - DELISH. Then - the food: At our waitress's suggestion, we got the firecracker grouper - unbelievable. SO good. The seafood salad (like a ceviche) - so fresh. And the lobster empanadas- more delicate than expected. As a main course we got the whole Red Snapper with the mofongo, and a mahi mahi special w rice and beans - literally licked the plates clean. Service: our servers were so kind and enthusiastic, so proud of the food they were serving- they added something special to the meal. All in all, a 10/10 authentic Puerto Rican experience. SO grateful we found it! If I am ever lucky enough to be back in PR, I am DEFINITELY going back!

Had my daughter's birthday dinner here during someone else's party so we ate outside on the patio and it was so nice. The staff is amazing and so accommodating. Service was great. The food is some of the best on the island. Everything was really fresh and our drinks were good too. Can't wait to come back! Get the Mofongo, it's delicious and not dry at all!

One of my favorite restaurants during my visit a year ago. I still think about it! It was our first stop after arriving. The area gets really busy at night. The restaurant is tucked away in the far corner once you find the correct parking area. My mom was with us and she is hard to please, but she loved everything that we ordered. Go here! You won't regret it!

Leo is one of the best if not, the best chef in my opinion in Puerto Rico, the place is completely relaxed non-pretentious and I'm addicted to the fried fish. It's a great restaurant to go with friends. I even have gone alone and been treated beautifully. Bravo open up another place please

The food is absolutely delicious. We had the whole snapper and lobster. The red snapper was by far the best we have had in the many islands we have visited. The drinks were also excellent. Terrific passion fruit and strawberry mojito made by Dacha The staff were amazing and very friendly. We highly recommend a root here for great seafood. .

Awesome awesome awesome This was the most amazing dinner that I've had in Puerto Rico. The dynamite grouper. Wow! The grouper amazing. The best margaritas I've ever had - muddled fruit and all handmade. The kids loved the chicken tenders. The service was perfect! It's in a really cool area and really chill! We will come back next time we are in PR.

Disappointing. Over priced and food was not that good. And, hard to get to. For visitors of San Juan, not worth the journey.

If you've ever been to Diamond in Akron or Cattleman's in Sarasota, you already know the outside is no reflection of what the chef can accomplish. I grew up living off Atlantic Ocean daily catch. Fresh has a specific taste, texture and flavor for me. Imagine my delight to find creative, flavorful, perfection in both fish and steak dinners at a beautifully simple restaurant in Carolina, PR. Impressed by the grouper does not begin to express my delight. The skirt steak was as good if not better than the higher end cut starved in a more expensive restaurant in old San Juan. Lobster empanadas were elevated by perfect pastry and a tamarind sauce extraordinaire! The whole red snapper was divine with moist garlic enhanced sweetness and it was also visually spectacular which is not my normal reaction to whole fish. The food was so good that the staff's warm interest not becoming intrusive allowed our table to rave and share with joy. Dinner at El Nuevo Acuario is our best culinary experience in Puerto Rico so far! On behalf of our entire table, thank you!

This is a gem! Small, if you're going during the busy season be prepared. We had the fried snapper, lobster empanadas, and calamari. All excellent! In addition to being well attended by our server we were checked on by a gentleman that turned out to be the chef/owner. We had a short conversation and he provided us with a list of places to see and restaurants to visit. We visited several and he was spot on. I hope our travels lead us back this way again!

food is excellent. The staff is extremely friendly. Recommend the firecracker grouper appetizer and the grouper dinners. It is a little small place. The owner. Leo is absolutely the friendliest and best man on the island of Puerto Rico.

I never review restaurants but they deserve all the stars. I had the beef empanada, whole red snapper with mofongo, and a blackberry mojito. Everything was fresh, and so flavorful and delicious. I was licking my fingers after. And the service can't be beat. They go out of their way to make sure you have an amazing dining experience. I will recommend this restaurant to everyone.

Great food, yummy drinks, good service and AIR CONDITIONING! The coconut shrimp was to die for and my husband says the lobster empanadas were the best he's ever had. Parking isn't easy but the food is worth the hassle.

On vacation in Puerto Rico and took my wife to one of her favorite seafood restaurants . Food and drinks were good.

So glad I found this place. It's located in a cute area near other local spots by the water. Food was delicious! We ordered the grouper as appetizer and loved it. I was worried it would be spicy but thought I'd give it a shot. It wasn't spicy at all (coming from someone who doesn't eat spicy food). Will order it again. Also both of us ordered the lobster and shrimp and blackberry mojitos as well. Service was decent! Something I like about this place is the food is the star. I didn't feel any sauces or seasonings were overpowering. Just good seafood! Will definitely revisit.

The food was delicious! The lobster empanadas alone were worth the trip. The Firecracker Grouper, the Tamarind sauce and the Cilantro Garlic Chicken did not disappoint! The flan was divine. We left so full and with leftovers! Next time the seafood sampler and whole snapper are on my list try! The servers were so sweet and the owner even made time to come over and chat- what a great experience all around!

This was the best fish I've had in years! Absolutely DELICIOUS!! And cooked to perfection, also the coconut shrimp was delicious as well. My favorite meal that I've had on my trip to Puerto Rico, I only wish I lived here so I could enjoy this meal again and again! I highly recommend this restaurant, the service was impeccable as well. Thank you for such an incredible meal!

Amazing service and staff. Very good virgin mojito and lobster with shrimp. Side of rice and beans. This place had AC which was nice on a hot day.

The first night we both had Shrimp Creole, Babe had his with the garlic and butter sauce, and I had the creole sauce on mine. He had a strawberry Mojito, and I had a Heineken along with firecracker grouper as an appetizer. Way too much food the appetizer alone could've been a meal. The portions are generous service is outstanding. The food is the THE BEST on the island we've had this entire week. Our Server, Dove to bring care of us, and made excellent recommendations. Second night, Babe had the lobster with white rice. I had the fried snapper with the beans and rice (The fish.... The lobster ...In-freaking-credible!!!) We both had the strawberry Mojitos. Everything was outstanding, including the surprise complementary flan was magnificent. We didn't get our server's name, but she again was amazing and made excellent recommendations. She re-made my blackberry Mojito for a strawberry one without me, asking which was much better. Leo (Owner/Chef) remembered us from the prior visit and visited table for a bit. He also surprised us with the incredibly delicious flan!!! Leo also gave us suggestions for another restaurant during our last day in PR since their restaurant is closed on Wednesdays. The food and dining experience is incredible. Highly recommend. if you don't dine here, shame on you. This will be the first place we stop when we get off the airplane during our next visit.

Yepppp, I went back. You already know if something is THAT GOOD, you always have to come back for seconds. My 1st time around I came alone, this time Ohhhhhh baby I brought my friends so I could try everything that they ordered as well . Let me just say that the experience is still the same, easily one of the best places to eat in P.R. One thing that pissed me off was the firecracker grouper! I didn't expect it to be THAT good. I offered my friends some of my food and I shouldn't have lolol! I really should have just kept my mouth shut and ate it all myself because that was the best grouper I ever had, ORDER IT NOW!!!! Everything else was fantastic as well though so order whatever you want, nothing will disappoint!

Firecracker Grouper is a must try! The battered fish covered in habanero aioli melts in your mouth. We also enjoyed the shrimp mofongo. The hostess is friendly and provided nice recommendations. The ambience has a beach shack vibe and was fun to spend the evening.

Don't walk... RUN to this restaurant. A friend of mine had recommended El Nuevo Acuario to us, and I'm so happy she did. It's easily the best food that we had in Puerto Rico. We ordered the seafood sampler and the whole fried snapper, which I'm still dreaming about. The three of us had a classic margarita, a passion fruit margarita and a blackberry mojoto- all so perfect and not overly sweet. The flavors were amazing, the drinks were great, and the staff was so friendly and helpful. I can't wait to come back on our next trip.

Came here after seeing great reviews and was not disappointed. Staff are super helpful, go at lengths to describe the items enthusiastically to you. It was a little confusing to find as they are currently renovating and the name board etc are not very readable. Came on a weekday night, ordered the seafood sampler. It was huggge for the two of us and we could only finish less than half of it. Also ordered a pina colada - was trying it for the first time and it was very sweet for me for a drink. Seafood sampler - rating 4/5 It came with fried calamari, octopus based ceviche, mofongo balls and firecracker grouper. Calamari and mofongo were my favorites. Did not enjoy the octopus as it was too chewy for me ( was also eating it in ceviche for first time ever). Firecracker grouper - my husband liked it but for me it was not so much of a highlight cuz I didnt enjoy the seasoning which was on it. As the sampler was huge we returned another day to try the red snapper - on a Friday night when we were coming back to San Juan from Ponce. Whole red snapper - rating 5/5 Loved it. We asked for them to make it spicy for us and the chef made a spicy sauce for us that we requested to put on the side. The snapper plate cost us ~$42. The fish was fresh, and I believe deep fried as a whole. We had the choice of sides and we chose to go with rice and beans. It also came with a side of salad. The combination worked great with the spicy sauce and red beans that had been puréed. Enjoyed it with blueberry mojitos! Large parking space in front- generally was crowded but we found parking when people left. Also both the nights when we were there it was very soothing, breezy with benches to sit/ stroll around right in front of the restaurant.

I got the Chuleta cancan. The flavor was really good and it came with a good portion of rice. The chuleta portion was very good as well. The only downside was that we probably waited 35/40 minutes for our food. Could be because there was a larger party before us and it seemed to be a smaller kitchen. Also tried their mojito and it was on the money.

AMAZING! We came here with 11 guys for my bachelor party and had the best food and the best time at dinner in all of San Juan. The place is unassuming on the outside, but the service team and food are incredible! We will be back when we come visit again, how could I pass this place up?

Looks are very deceiving! Doesn't look like anything special on the outside, but boy oh boy, it's a gem! Blackberry mojito- yummy and strong! The two most treasured words for cocktails! Get it! Fire cracker grouper- nice portion for 2-3 people to snack on before the entrees. The fish tasted very fresh, I'd just ask them to hold the sauce next time. They put A LOT on there! Fried whole snapper- doesn't taste like you SHOULDNT be eating this (because it's fried). Light to no breading; best seasoning on fish ever....wasn't the chef's first go round. Rice and beans are probably the best I had ever had but my beans consisted of liquid with about 6 beans..... My friend said the steak was flavorful but a little over cooked. They don't have diet drinks so you're on you're own there. All of us should drink a little more water anyways..

What can I say other than I'm so happy I've tried this place. It has almost a 5 star review and I know why now. Parking wasn't fun but SO worth it. We started with blackberry mojitos. They were so fresh, the best mojitos I've ever had, and I've had some mojitos. We started with the firecracker grouper and a shrimp empanada and I promise it was so fresh it melted in your mouth. The firecracker sauce, the aioli were to die for. I had the seafood rice and my partner had the red snapper. The seafood rice was AMAZING. The flavor profile was everything I was looking for, my partner thoroughly enjoyed the red snapper as well. They're renovating so we got to sit inside which was nice because today was a hot one. Our waitress was so pleasant. We enjoyed her recommendations! Overall, this was a 10/10 experience and can't wait to come back so we can come back.

BEST FOOD IN PUERTO RICO!!! I recommend trying the lobster empanadas, calamari, and most definitely the firecracker grouper!!!! Everything in this restaurant is amazing!!!

Where do I even begin with this place? First, per usual, Yelpers know what's up. We read review after review and they all said that the food here was the best on the island. Pretty sure that's a fact. Stuff to know: El Nuevo Acuario is in Piñones, just a short drive from Carolina toward Loíza. As others have said, when you first get there, you might think, "Wait. This is where I'm gonna get the best food in Puerto Rico?" Yes. Yes, it is, and YES. YOU. ARE. We were greeted by big smiles from Leo and Dove, who filled us not only with righteous food and drink, but lively conversation, too. Just delightful humans. To start, THE HOUSE-MADE PASSIONFRUIT MOJITOS. There were several other flavors, too, but WHOA. These were downright life-giving. Everything on the menu sounded fantastic, and we dove right in, starting with their seafood sampler (easy choice when you have no ability to make a decision) that featured their firecracker grouper (light, crispy, perfectly spiced, amazing), octopus ceviche (to die for), calamari, and mofongo balls (I've had lots of mofongo on this trip and this was definitely the best--and it's not even close). Also got langostine (lobster) empanadas whose pastry was perfectly tender and flaky (also a don't-miss selection). For the mains, my partner in crime had coconut shrimp, which were light, crispy, and wonderful, and I decided on the whole, fried red snapper with tostones. This may have been the best fish I've ever eaten. Light, perfectly seasoned in a way that just let the freshness of the fish shine through, and straight up perfection. The tostones, which you should totally get also, are made even better by dipping them in the restaurant's tamarind sauce. To recap: NO FRILLS. Yes, yes, you ARE in the right place. Warmth, smiles, and the best seafood you'll find anywhere. I can't wait to go back.

Leothe owner is amazing. Him and his staff are the reason why this places review are so high. But let me tell why the places is perfect. My son and I had calamari coconut shrimp steak and firecracker grouper. Omg let me tell you this place is amazing. They took care of me and my son and I would 1,000% come back.

Place is amazing! Loved every single dish especially red snapper and coconut shrimp! The service was also very good and the staff was attentive

Amazing fish, mofongo, passion fruit Mojito, and the best service from Amanda! Honestly the best dining experience for great local food! I highly recommend!!!

Omg this poor lil guy had no chance. Amazing seasoning and to die for sauces. Service is spectacular and all the dishes were made to order. Definitely will be back with more hungry patrons.

Absolutely fresh and delicious. Met the owner and he really cares about the quality of food and service. Everyone speaks English and Spanish and the menu is easy to read. Never had coconut shrimp so good and the dip for it was out of this world. Highly recommend.