Brother Jimmy’s BBQ

Service was excellent our server Alberto was pleasant, engaging and quick with our food and drinks. Food is good, tasty and drinks were great. Prices very reasonable. This has been our go to for years when we come down.
Really do not know why such prior negative reviews. Oh let’s not forget the VIEWS from the restaurant can not be beat!
Tina
PS tried posting our pic from roof don’t know where it went!

This could a five star bar if you were looking for a cool, open air roof top location to watch a game and have some drinks with friends, but it is a two star restaurant. The food is simply okay, less than your average bar food and the waitstaff is disappointing. However, the bartenders are great, atmosphere is cool, and drinks are cold.

My friend and I visited on a Sunday night. The place was almost empty with the exception of a few people watching the Mets game. The service was slowwwwwwww. Food was ok but no comparison to the Brother Jimmy’s I’m use to in NYC.

We were curious to know what BBQ in Puerto Rico would taste like and they ran some enticing commercials so we decided to try it out one night. It’s on the 10^th floor of the El San Juan Casino which makes for a some very nice views and helped us figure out where all the music we kept hearing was coming from. The food left a lot to be desired. It’s NC based BBQ which is basically just meat with a vinegary sauce. The meat was marinated or anything, just coated with he sauce. I also had the Spice Rubbed Churrasco which was good and some of the most seasoned Churrasco I had on the Island. The fried were ok too, but probably wouldn’t return.

Missing most beers on beer list, and the cockroaches come out when the sun goes down.
We were drawn by the lights on the rooftop while out looking for after dinner drinks. We had zero idea what to expect, and were a little disappointed to have stumbled into a southern roadhouse knock-​off. We ordered some beers, and we were asked for backup orders in case they were out. We all less malty styles, and they were clearly out of the first six beers we ordered. The waitress returned with a bucket of options, all of which were stouts and porters. After another round of ordering with backups, we finally got our beers.
Right after the drinks showed up, the first cockroach made an appearance. Two more sightings of additional cockroaches, and we briskly finished our drinks and got the hell out.

I’d say the food was pretty average. The meat itself was good but the sides were disgusting. Do yourself a favor and refrain from ordering the mashed potatoes as they tasted like dirt.
Lastly, the service. Our waitress– Marisol was pretty bad. She was not attentive at all and we could never find her when we needed to order drinks, or ask for refills. Even asking for our check alone was a hassle as she took forever and note they were not busy.

Pretty good little BBQ joint on the 10^th floor of the El San Juan resort & casino. It’s actually reasonably priced! Shockingly the prices weren’t too high. The appetizers are about the same price as the entrees but it’s okay they’re all pretty good.
It’s an outdoor sports bar at the top of the hotel. The beers are expensive but that’s to be expected being that it’s in the hotel. They had a few different Sam Adams beers. That was cool.
Their BBQ sauces are pretty watery. I couldn’t figure out if they were a Carolina style BBQ joint or what…
If you’re on a budget and staying at the hotel come here for lunch if you wanna stay under $ 50

Stayed at the El San Juan resort and wanted something quick and easy to eat, so we looked up Brother Jimmy’s BBQ menu online and called in an order to-​go. After ordering I asked how much it would cost, and the price they gave was way more than expected. The prices posted online had changed, so everything was more expensive. Please update the prices on your online menu. When we received our order, the fries had no seasoning or salt, it was just really greasy with no taste! Good thing we had dipping sauce to add some flavor!
Must I add, the night before I ordered to-​go we actually went up to the 10^th floor to check out the restaurant. When we got there the hostesses were just talking and we were basically ignored. No greeting whatsoever. So we sat at the bar, but then decided to leave after a few minutes because the person at the bar just handed us the menu and left to go to the back. That was the reason why we decided to order to-​go instead of dining in.

I have no idea what these tourists are talking about, but the food is delicious and the price is great! I’m from New York City and know good food! great view!
Service outside of the USA is slow… The Caribbean, Europe, Asia… It’s vacation, what’s the rush?!

Came in to watch the NBA finals loved the view and decided to stay for dinner and this is where my story begins…
We ordered the pigs pick (4 items and 2 set sides) of brisket + MOJO ribs + southern ribs + bbq chicken. The food came out and there was a cup of butter besides a 1in by 1in piece of corn bread which I split with my gf. Cornbread was a dry so that set the tone of the meal. I then tried the southern style ribs which was smoked for 12 hours, so they say… I bit into the rib and the first thing that I noticed was how dry the rib was then I noticed how tough it was. I cook for a living and I’ve made my fair share of ribs, additionally, if you smoke anything for 12 hours it will fall OFF THE BONE, which was not the case here. I decided not to finish it and moved onto the MOJO rib which was EXACTLY THE SAME, but I knew that by just the look and feel. The so called MOJO sauce was a mix of herbs placed in a vitamix set on high and then forgotten over night, PURE DOODOO, do you have any idea what texture is? Or seasoning? JEEZ! The flavors were confusing on the pallette and fell flat as soon as it hit my tongue.
Now let’s move to the chicken, which was dark meat if you are wondering, had one nice grill line on it I took one bite and noticed an odd flavor that stood out more than anything else, including the chicken, that flavor my friend was LIQUID SMOKE??? are you kidding me? Your menu says smoked ribs but I don’t taste a lick of smoke, however, your chicken taste as if it was raised in a smokehouse, fed smoked millet and grains, drank smoked water and then was slaughtered in a smoke house and then smoked until it was dryer than the Sahara. FML!
Okay last item, THE BRISKET, if you are American, and proud of it, you know your brisket. And anything cut under ½ inch thick is luncheon meat. They sent me… some… 7-​ELEVEN ROAST BEEF with some DAMN sugar and spice sprinkled on the top… pure B/​S. My brisket was cut as thick as Oscar Meyer bologna and was dry as oberto beef jerky.
Don’t even get me started about service. Or lack of. I will leave it there.
Recommendations:
Pros: awesome view + cheap (64oz) swamp water drink for 20 $
Cons: DON’T EAT HERE UNLESS YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY STARVING AND POSSIBLY MIGHT DIE FROM FAMINE.
Our bad for trying to eat BBQ in Puerto Rico.

Ate here twice and was unsatisfied both times. Food is mediocre at best, and quite expensive for the poor quality as well as the lacking customer service.
This is a rooftop place with quite a nice view, pretty cool bar and exotic drinks such as their «swamp water» fish bowls. That’s where the positives end though. I avoid otherwise.

Mediocre to poor food. But they’ve got a great spot on the roof overlooking San Juan. If you’re a tourist, it’s worth checking this place out for the view or if you’re looking for a bite to eat before heading to club brava.

Beautiful views on top of the old San Juan!
Otherwise, this place is a joke. We were there on a quiet Sunday night. Only a few tables were taken. Employees probably outnumbered customers. We sat for about 15 minutes and no one came to take our order or even ask if we wanted drinks. Meanwhile, all of the 15 or so employees there were all hanging out talking and laughing near the bar. Finally, when a waitress came, we ordered drinks. After watching her laugh and joke around with another employee for about 10 more minutes with still no drinks delivered to our table, we walked out. Told some other people walking in as we were walking out about our experience and they walked out too then we saw someone in the elevator that had the same experience. This place is clearly just a place for the employees to hang out and have fun rather than a legitimate restaurant.

The only thing this restaurant has going for it is the location. It’s on the 10^th floor of the El San Juan casino and resort with panoramic views of Isla Verde and San Juan.
I arrived in time for sunset and I can still hear all the jumbo planes taking off from the airport to the south.
I ordered Southern style dry rub ribs and received a three-​quarter rack of ribs for $ 25 including two sides. The smoke one it was delicious but it was dry and overcooked.
The coleslaw was bland and the string beans were covered in unidentifiable seasonings, I’m thinking pepper, salt and some others. The cornbread was hard and cold.
I asked for a piña colada, light on the rum and it cost $ 11.
The décor was sports themed with lots of jumbo TVs around for games, with ESPN and basketball and all kinds of sports. That was fun. Watching the waves roll to the shore and the sun beginning to set was also really nice.
My server was nice. I did ask him to lay off of my table for a while and let me just sit and take in the atmosphere and he respected my wishes. I was one of the first patrons to come to that restaurant and didn’t linger too long. I was hoping that this franchise in Puerto Rico with well me with the sport but it was very underwhelming. Just as my fellow Unilocaler said a short day ago.
I should really pay attention to those reviews.
Well I’m happy to have had the experience.

If you are from NYC, you probably know or have been to Bro’ Jimmy. After Dallas BBQ, Bro’ham Jimmy’s is the best of the worst.
On my first night in El San Juan hotel, the pool guy who I befriended suggested this joint. He didn’t say what it was called, but instead just told me to go to the 10^th floor for a really good time and an amazing view of the sunset. When I got off the elevator and saw the Brother Jimmy’s logo, I thought I was getting punk’d. I live a block away from BJ’s on the east side! And I HATE IT!
Undeterred, I thought I had to see the view… at least. It didn’t disappoint (see pics). The entire roof IS Brother Jimmy’s. Wind rips through and cools you down from the high altitude and nothing but a makeshift tent separates you from the stars above. The bar is long and oddly shaped (TWSS). Happy hour consisted of $ 4 beers, which isn’t bad. However, after HH ends it doubles in price, so buyer beware!
Sit to the right of the bar. There is a bartender there named, Martin (skinny, balding, guy in his 40s) who usually works that side. He has Sundays and Monday’s off and is the one that doesn’t look like Andy Cohen from Bravo. Quiet at first, he will warm up to you once he knows you are sincere and real. I know, why the hell do I have to sell myself to a bartender?
He was the most interesting person I met in my 8 days there. The biggest reason was his unfiltered honesty of PR and life. I’m not sure he’s like this with everyone, but when you go there for ⁴⁄₅ days in a row he grows on you like mold. He will rip you, educate you on island life and make you laugh with his charm and wit; he was 60% of the reason I went there. It’s a corp bar, so buy backs didn’t exist. Make friends with him anyway.
The ugly:
It’s twice as expensive as BJ’s in NYC. Beware of drink prices when happy hour is over and beware of shot prices and cocktails that aren’t on the HH menu. That’s how they get you.
So, why come here?
Well, the food is mediocre compared to Brother Jimmy’s in NYC, which is average on a good day, so that’s not it. Besides Martin… it’s the view, the sunsets and the breeze. Oh, there is a mechanical bull… exactly.
The end.

Great food and atmosphere. Restaurant is on the 10^th floor of hotel with an amazing view of Isla Verde Beach. If you want a sports bar atmosphere as well… this is your place. And heck, after you eat some barbecue (which is very good), take your chances on the mechanical bull. Yee haw!
Have fun and enjoy!

1 star rating for their crappy hours… they open at 5pm!!!

Came to watch the Seahawks game. Great location but mediocre service and food. The game looked like a hologram because of poor TV /​cable quality.
Had the fried pickles and tried them in every sauce to add flavor. Unfortunately it was more breading and barely any pickle. Finishing our beers and plan to hit the rode once the game is over.

Let me start off wit this. We ate here one night and the service was great and the ribs and wings were very good. Overall a great experience.
However, we were on the beach the next day and received a flyer for two for one drinks on the condition that you get one of their temporary tattoos and wear it when you go in anytime from 4 – 7. Sounds like a great deal?
The problem with this is that you need to order two entrees and the deal is not good for their specialty drinks. Of course this was never verbally said by the promoters and there is no fine print at all on the flyer. A very shady bait and switch.

Marisol was amazing! Very attentive and kind service. The wings are a great portion with delicious buffalo sauce. (Also the ranch is pretty damn good!) the Mac and cheese is super creamy, pretty good — needs little salt /​overall good and good for kids. The pulled chicken was very tender with great flavor. The «Frickles» (fried pickles) were tasty, a little burnt but nice and crispy. Overall a great atmosphere with a beautiful view of the shoreline and at night the city lights.
There is also a kids section and extended balcony areas. The décor is very hip and so is the music, a mixture of alternative, rock, pop, and funk. There is also a a mechanical bull! (If you’re up for it) after having dinner and drinks!
EAT MEAT!