Marmalade

My husband upon arriving to Puerto Rico for our wedding, and it was hands down the best meal we had. We LOVE this place. You must go!!!

Loved the food and ambiance, service was excellent will definitely be coming back here every time I visit PR. As other reviewers I would definitely recommend prix fixe. We got ceviche, yellow snapper (can’t remember dish’s name), white bean soup, lobster risotto, beef tenderloin, tagine lamb, coffee and beignets and milk chocolate. We loved all of it, but special shot out goes to the soup and the dessert. Highly recommend this place for a visit.

This one will live in my heart forever! Wow! Wow!!! Wow!!! The décor, service, and above all else, the food, made for an absolute unforgettable experience. Six courses and my wife and I were not sure we could finish rounding the last lap but we forged ahead, driven by an insatiable lust for the next course that might somehow outdo the last one. I can’t stress enough how much I enjoyed this meal. Pricey no doubt but worth every penny!

We had very high expectations walking into this place, and everyone just blew them out of the water! First off, our waitress Chris was phenomenal. She had a genuine, positive energy that just made our dining experience so memorable! They encourage sharing so that you’re able to experience everything; and that’s just what we did. Everything Chris recommended was delicious and full of flavor! If there is one thing that I could recommend, is a MUST, would be the white bean soup!
What I love even more is how much Peter, the owner, cares about his food and his customers… Personally bringing dishes out for customers to try and just so appreciative for you to be there.

If you’re spending close to $ 300 for 2, the food should be exceptional and it makes me uncomfortable to say that Marmalade just wasn’t.
Usually, splurges for $ 100+ per person don’t disappoint for us. This experience left us confused. Was it a fluke? I hope so considering all the rave reviews.
As a side note, our server (Katy…spelling? Not sure) was absolutely fantastic and she was very attentive, friendly and great at answering our questions.
What we both ordered:
6 Course Tasting Menu
Rockstars of the night:
–White bean soup — If only every dish were on par with this one, Marmalade would be receiving 4 – 5 stars
–Coffee and doughnuts (fully dip the donuts into the chocolate raspberry mousse!!)
–Milk chocolate, macadamia nut, passion fruit — really really effing good. Beautifully presented. The bavarian cream was perfect and the flavors and textures all came together nicely.
–Global warming cocktail — Spicy coming to the end of it — amazing and not something you get many places!
–Pappardelle — One of my favorites. the truffle oil was strong and the pasta was cooked just right.
Good:
–Ceviche — Good flavors. A little soupy. I liked the touch of mandarin orange though. The plantain rounds were nice.
–Poke — acidity from the tomato balanced this out very nicely. High quality sashimi. The thin cracker accompaniment was a nice touch. My bf was a huge fan.
–Gnocchi was one of the better dishes. Rich and good flavor but could have been less salty. I liked that the gnocchi wasn’t too heavy and wasn’t too light — made very well.
Decent:
–Beets — I enjoyed this dish but it’s fare that has become standard at new american restaurants — beets paired with goat cheese and greens. Always a go to for me. It’s a refreshing dish to whet your appetite for the heavier dishes!
–Rabbit Mac N Cheese — This was NOT mac n cheese! Where was the cheese?! It was a medley of pasta, veggies, rabbit meat, and a sprinkling of parmesan cheese on top. The rabbit was good. They should rename this dish on the menu.
–Pineapple cocktail was tasty, but not special like the Global Warming drink.
Could have done without:
–Scallops — Undercooked, it was more clear than opaque, closer to the consistency that I’ve had when eating raw scallops at sushi restaurants. The entire dish was lukewarm and got cold very quickly. The dish also lacked acid and spice. There were beans and corn thrown into an unremarkable sweet sauce. Lacked depth.
–Snapper — Fish was beautifully cooked. Sauce was too salty, flavor would have been better with less salt. Chorizo tasted like pepperoni. If only it were just the fish sans sauce.
For the price point, there shouldn’t be dishes we could do without. I suggest being conservative here. Come for cocktails and desserts, maybe the apps. Definitely have the white bean soup!

Hailing from Manhattan, I am picky about my fine dining. I must say I was impressed with Marmalade. One thing I can say about them is they have an «aim to please» attitude toward their patrons and it’s very pleasant and feels welcoming. From the beginning we were assured that if we didn’t like anything it could be replaced with something else.
You get to choose between a four-​course, five-​course, or six-​course tasting menu when ordering. We opted to make all four courses savory instead of three with dessert, for a surcharge (we’re not big sweet fans). I would recommend that they add a three-​course and maybe get rid of the six-​course, as it was a LOT of food! My favorite dish was actually my appetizer, which was the yellowtail poke with watermelon and rice chips-​AMAZING. Huge chunks of fresh fish and the acidity of the fruit complements them nicely. I also tried the lobster risotto, rabbit «mac and cheese», and for my main got the surf and turf (tuna with foie gras). Lobster risotto was delicious. I was underwhelmed with the rabbit dish, very vegetable heavy and not really much cheese at all, wouldn’t recommend this one. As for my entrée I was also underwhelmed but that’s my mistake because I don’t love cooked tuna, I usually find it bland to begin with. The foie was great though and if you like lentils they were good too. Cocktails are lovely here and the service is above and beyond, if I had asked, the waitress would have had no problems exchanging the dishes I wasn’t crazy about. My boyfriend had the signature dish, truffle white bean soup-​we could both see why it’s been a staple on the menu for so long. It’s absolutely delicious and a must order! Our best meal in Puerto Rico was here for sure.

Marmalade is a gem in Old San Juan. The menu is full of surprises and ever changing. This was our fourth time dining there and as usual we went away more than satisfied. My wife is very careful as to what she eats from a health point of view (the opposite of myself) and was able to find any number of exciting dishes that fit her style. The chef makes it a point to try to meet with the diners and discuss the menu and the contents. He spent a great deal of time with us and made the evening something extra special. The setting in Old San Juan just adds to the overall charm of this place. Staff is more than knowledgeable in what is being served and how it is prepared. Special attention should be given to the signature soup which makes one order it over and over again. Being from New York City, and making it a point to try out all of the top restaurants, I can tell you that where it located there getting a reservation would a test of one’s skills.
Visit February 2016 — Back again this year to PR for a couple of weeks after skipping two years. Our #1 destination once again was Marmalade in Old San Juan. This year it was not only myself and the wife but also both our sisters. We all settled for the four-​course meal. We did not choose the wine pairing, as two of us are non-​drinkers. However my sister needed a lemon drop martini at once. She is very critical about how this drink is made and presented but raved about how great it tasted and also how nicely it was presented. The Poke was outstanding and malted in one’s mouth. Both sisters went for the Lobster Risotto and did nothing but rave and wish there was more in their dishes. Having been here a number of times before I was not about to miss a chance to have the White Bean Soup, which as usual set the stage for the overall meal. The main course found me having the beef, which was cooked to perfection and presented with a mixture of veggies. My wife and I were able to visit Marmalade for a second time later on the vacation. I made a decision to change-​up all the courses so that I could check out some of the things that I have never had on prior visits. Once again everything I ordered left one wondering where the ideas for such presentation and combinations comes from. The owner/​chef, Peter stopped by out table on both visits to chat about the different dishes and the seasonal selections. Another treat was the owners daughter also stopped by on our second visit as she remembered us from the week before. She charmed us to death and left with the following remark «I am going to leave you now so that you can enjoy your meal», which we promptly did

This was the best meal I have ever had! It was most excellent in all directions of appetite on my tongue. The waiter was excellent he knew everything about every meal and why each spice and food garment complemented each other. Our group was lucky in that we received a little of everything from menu!
A plus all around. A must for smile.
Thank you
White bean soup yes!
And I have their recipe!!! wooohooo

The menu is not «kid friendly». However, we were on vacation and took our 11 year old with us to dinner. The waiter and chef went above and beyond expectations to accommodate a kid’s preference.
My wife and I had the four course dinner with wine pairings. Everything we had was excellent. Many posts here note the white bean soup. We loved it as well — must try it!

Omg, everything was sooooo delicious!!! Everyone is calling this a pricey place but $ 89 for a meal is not what I consider pricey for what we got. We got the 6 course tasting menu and shared absolutely everything. All the food was a definite ⁵⁄₅ but the ones that were mind blowing were their signature dish the bean soup and poke.
Omg the bean soup. If you do not get the bean soup you will regret it for the rest of your life! So creamy, rich, and flavorful… All the flavors melded together perfectly!
The tuna poke was exceptional… It was a flavor explosion… and the addition of the shrimp chips on the side was perfectly delicate to pair with this dish. It was served to us with the ceviche, which was delicious as well, but if I had to choose between the two, the poke was better.
Golden beet salad was tasty and had nice texture with the cheese. The shrimps were cooked to perfection with just the right amount of smokiness to them.
The lobster risotto was very good as well, but we got it at the same time as the bean soup, and the bean soup stole the show.
Foie gras… When is foie gras ever bad? Delicious! The duck had a perfect blend of sweet potatoes and cinnamon, the flavors went perfectly together.
For the mains, we got the snapper and the sea bass which were both very good, but the starters were so exceptional that it shadowed over the mains.
For dessert we had the crème brule and the banana bread pudding, and both were excellent.
We sat at the bar, the first waiter that had helped us was absolutely exceptional! He knew everything about each dish, described them perfectly, and helped us decide with great descriptive of each dish. The passion fruit sangria and the pineapple Mojito were fantastic!
We didn’t have reservations and when I tried online it said it was all full. But since we are just a party of 2, I figured let’s take the chance and walk into the restaurant to see if they would take us and they did!

I visited Marmalade during my first trip to San Juan, and it truly impressed me on several levels!
FOOD: Marmalade offers options for a la carte dining or coursed tasting menus at fixed prices. I opted for the four courses while dining with a group of friends, and we all tried to order different options so we could have a taste of several of the dishes. Note, there are several vegetarian and gluten-​free options — love the variety to choose from! I love the emphasis on variety and locally sourced ingredients. Everything we had was divine, but our collective favorites were the white bean soup, risotto of lobster, foie gras, sea bass, tuna and beef tenderloin. For dessert, we all raved about the coffee and donuts.
DRINKS: The passion fruit sangria was absolutely delicious and I could have indulged in several of them! I tasted the two mojito flavors and they were also excellent. I also discovered my new favorite dessert wine, and our server was gracious enough to indulge me in the numerous questions I had about the wine because I want to track it down when I’m not in Puerto Rico!
EXPERIENCE: The décor is elegant without being intimidating, and tables are a respectful distance so you can truly enjoy the company of your dining companion (s).
Our server Rafael was extremely enjoyable, attentive, and amusing. He made excellent and well-​informed suggestions and was genuinely a nice person. It was a pleasure to dine with him!
The owner and executive chef Peter came out to check on our party and discuss the dishes. He was more engaged than a drive-​by hello; he spent time with us and seemed honestly invested in making sure our dining experience was top-​notch.
The location is near several other bars/​restaurants, so it was convenient to walk out of Marmalade and immediately enjoy the local nightlife.
SUMMARY: Overall, I was very impressed with the food and drink selection, the service and entire experience. If I find myself in San Juan again, I will definitely make another visit to Marmalade!

I was very reluctant about trying Marmalade since there were soooo many other restaurants that caught my eye during my short vacay in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico. However, when you see several friends on Unilocal who gave it rave reviews including one of your BFF’s what’s a gal to do but check it out. I called in advance to see if I had to make a reservation for one and was told I could just come in and would have to sit by the bar. Initially I was fine with that but later regretted not sitting at one of the regular tables to take in the entire ambience and experience for this pricey meal. This was my last restaurant for dinner during my PR vacay trip so I wanted it to be memorable and it truly was an elegant experience.
I ordered the prix-​fixe four course menu as strongly recommended and was very pleased with most of my courses. For my cocktail, I ordered the passion fruit sangria which was delicious. The first course was the white bean soup which I was expecting to be outstanding based on most of the reviews and it truly lived up to its reputation. The flavors of that soup blended so well together the only thing I was disappointed in was the small portion in the bowl because I devoured it so quickly. The second course was the paella that looked like sushi (which I don’t eat) but was informed by my server/​bartender (I forgot her name, but she was a sweetheart) that there was no seafood and it was just presented like a sushi. The paella was delicious and had a little spicy kick to it that I loved. The presentation of the paella was cute and unique and described as «sushi esque» bite size pieces of crispy Andalusian style paella filled with smoked chicken, peas and peppers flavored with a Saffron-​garlic espuma & a chorizo-​tomato sauce.” The third course was the pork cheeks that I thought would be similar to pork chops which I love. My bartender/​server informed me they were better than pork chops and very tender. I was very excited about this course and to my surprise the chef himself delivered this course and explained how it was prepared. I could barely hear him and was just excited he didn’t forget little old me sitting at the bar, which was very a kind gesture. Those pork cheeks were tender and so flavorful. I didn’t leave a morsel of meat on my plate. The final course was the dessert and I ordered the Milk Chocolate *Macadamia Nut dish which was just okay. I only liked portions of the ice-​cream.
Overall the experience was memorable and I can say I was there but surprisingly this wasnt my best meal in PR. You can definitely get some quality, good tasting food in San Juan without breaking the bank.

Please note this is a pricey place but definitely worth the investment. You have the option of selecting a 5,6 or 8 course menu i believe. We opted for the 8 courses. I had a toddler with me which was not ideal but the awesome staff helped make it work.
The seating was comfy with lots of pillows, romantic ambient lighting and a quick attentive staff. Please note the names of the dishes are typical but the presentation and cooking style are 100% authentic. Blew us away as we never knew what twist they would put on these classics!
We started off with a fruity red wie and pealla which was not the traditional style of moist flavorful rice but instead they were taste well presented bites. We enjoyed the popcorn shrimp which featured jumbo succulent fresh shrimp with flavored and seasoned popcorn and a beet and raddish salad. The ceviche was tostones was so fresh and refreshing.
Next we moved onto the frios gra and lobster risotto! Omg the frois was like butter in my mouth and the hearty sweet pieces of lobster reminded
me of true authetic Maine!
Next we moved on and enjoyed the kale pasta and braised rabbit. We are looking for a rabbit to recreate this dish.
The scallops were so meaty and the tagine lamb was so tender and non gamey tasting.
We are still smiling about this meal. Finally, we enjoyed a fresh or fuerte cup of espresso while we ate our desserts (choc, pepper and rum parfait and a coconut crème bru and vanilla ice cream for the kid!
Again, great service, stellar food. Chris– bar tender and waitress went above and beyond to accomodate our toddler while serving as a wealth of information during our food/​wine selections. Go there!!! Well Worth the money!!!

«Marmalade Restaurant and Wine Bar» and so glad got to meet Chef and Owner Peter Schintler to congratulate him on this brilliant menu that has placed his restaurant as one of the top must try restaurant on the Island.
What a great discovery with a phenomenal tasting menu paired with wines with something for everyone from meat, sea lovers to vegans too. Great explosive flavors in a great setting with a flair for fusion dishes served with organic tasty foods.
Highly recommend the wine pairing, absolutely incredible pairing with each wine in perfect harmony with the accompanying dish.
We need to seriously help this Chef get a James Beard Award… right up there with the likes of French Laundry, Restaurant August, Commanders Palace, Per Se etc etc
If your a foodie looking for an excuse to go to the Caribbean for a long weekend… then this is the perfect excuse!

It’s a great midweek dining experience if you’ve got a week in old San Juan. Local puerto rican food can be very repetitive. It’ll give your palette a good break. We picked 5 courses although I honestly feel 4 course would have been sufficient.
1) poke– cubed salmon, tuna and watermelon with sesame seeds. Refreshing start.
2) white bean soup– creamy bacon soup you’ll have to lick off the bowl
3) sea bass– it’s like the sea bass lullabies on a bed of creaminess
4) crème brûlée– ive never had caramel corn flavored brûlée and I’m surprised not a lot of places have tried too. I was hoping it was torched more on top and will be better off without caramel popcorn mixed into ice cream
Cocktail: Global Warming — you must’ve ok with spice, more so, spice that gets even more spicy. It’s heat that’s evolving every sip. You’ll find it very soothing.
The only thing I regret is not having asked the chef why he named the restaurant Marmalade. A must dining experience when in San Juan.

We did the prix fixe (4 course option where you mix and match what you want, which was the perfect amount for a normal stomach)
I hit a homerun with all my food choices. If you are wise, you will follow suit.
Appetizers:
— Pacific Yellowtail Poke (amazing, never had yellowtail before and I’m def. a fan after this!)
— White bean truffle soup (life-​changing)
Entrée:
— Heritage Berkshire Pork Cheeks (soooo good)
Dessert:
— Milk Chocolate *Macadamia Nut * Passion Fruit (also life-​changing)
I can’t stress enough how delicious the white bean truffle soup was. I’d chop off a finger to know the recipe (ok maybe not but really, it’s delicious!!). Don’t pass on it!
I almost want to book another flight to Puerto Rico just to eat there again. Def. top 10 fave meals of my life.

Went here with family not too long ago. I cannot wait to go back!
The décor is island chic. Everything is in a sort of jade-​blue color with beautiful abstract photos and eclectic accents. Blue is usually an unappetizing color, but I didn’t feel that way at all here.
The tiny white bean soup is just as good as your waiter will tell you it is. It was absolutely amazing. I could have just gotten about 4 bowls of it and never have looked back. I also had the Branzino which was perfectly cooked, and i was ellated that is was cooked with baby fennel. SO good. I wrapped up with the peach and brie tart for dessert which was everything I hoped it would be.
With every course we had our waiter suggested excellent wine pairings. He was wonderful, knowledgeable, and passionate. He also made a great photographer!
I’d go back to Puerto Rico just to eat here.

I played it local for most of the time I was in PR. Translation: small little hood joints that looked sketch and served basic bitch food that basic bitches would be scared to eat.
But, variety is the spice of life and you can only live on mofongo and pork for so long before you wanna kill a mofo. I came here only to have some libations and chill. Drinks are strong and the vibe is chill and modern
It’s a fusion type of joint that will put a dent in your wallet and make you feel like you’re back in NYC, which is ironic because you came here to not think about that shitshow of a city.

Wonderful menu packed with first-​rate ingredients simply prepared, and a no-​nonsense wine menu. Reservations are recommended, but we just dropped in and sat at a comfy bench at the bar. The atmosphere is contemporary and comfortable
Well-​made cocktails to start. We ordered a la carte ceviche, white bean soup, and the black truffle pappardelle. Memorable choices.
The chef/​owner Peter was very visible and attentive, delivering two of our courses, and offering warm and gracious conversation with the guests. To me that means he cares about the place and it shows. The rest of the staff were also friendly and helpful.

We decided to splurge on a dinner at Marmalade for our anniversary, and were so glad we did. It was an exceptional meal from start to finish.
We opted for the four course tasting menu, the smallest one available, with wine pairings. The way they do the tasting menu at Marmalade is great: Each dinner chooses her own dishes from the regular menu, so not all folks at the table have to eat the same thing. Our server actually encouraged us to select different items from each other so we could taste more dishes between us (a plan which didn’t quite work out once we were each jealously guarding our own delicious food).
Every dish was delicious and beautifully presented. The rabbit and polenta was a great dish, but it was overshadowed by the items with fish. The Hawaiian poke, scallops, and sea bass were all really, really good.
One interesting thing is that the wine pairings aren’t necessarily restricted to traditional wine. My poke was paired with a dry sake, and another dish came with a liqueur. In each case, it was an interesting pairing that introduced me to a new beverage (good), although I would probably have preferred a glass of «regular’ wine.
Toward the end of our meal, the chef came over to chat with us, which added a nice personal touch to the experience.
Marmalade is a great choice to celebrate your special occasion in San Juan. You will have delicious food, excellent service, and a romantic ambiance. What more could you ask for?