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They tried to bury us; They did not know we were seeds. Mexican proverb |
PUNTO MEDIO: SWELL PLACE ON LOIZA ST.
SAN JUAN: There are neighborhood venues so congenial that the
moment you step inside you feel at home, the kind of place that
embraces you and you want to embrace back and tell everyone
about it.
It's easy to feel that way about Punto Medio, the casual café/wine
bar that opened its doors eight and a half months ago on Loiza St.
and has become a favorite spot for breakfast, especially on Sundays
when you might very possibly have to stand in a line of people
waiting to get in.
Punto Medio is only 10 tables big, a small but comfortable
restaurant that is neither chic nor pretentious but has a clean,
feel-good vibe. You immediately sense that everything in it
was selected with care and attention to detail, from the quaint
ornaments and artwork on the walls to the handmade wood
and metal tables in different sizes and shapes. The commanding
element in the restaurant is a handsome bar counter decorated with
a stylized mosaic about Puerto Rico in which mountains, land
and sea are interwoven against a bright white sky ruled by a
golden sun.
True to its name, Punto Medio aims to bring together two
alternate concepts: the daytime café and the evening pub.
As a result, its menu offers different eating options at different
points of the day.
The morning menu includes fried or scrambled eggs, pancakes,
fruits and sandwiches on croissant or baguette bread while the
afternoon and evening menu leans towards artisanal beers, white
and red wines from Spain, Chile and Argentina you can couple
with an intriguing selection of tapas featuring mussels in garlic,
wine-infused chorizo sausage, blood-sausage pate, smoked
salmon or a sampler of these options followed with a couple
of dessert choices.
Co-owner Jayleen Babilonia said the business is a family affair
in which everyone, including her brother and sister and father,
have been involved with additional support from friends and artists
who worked on the mosaic.
Now that it has established itself as a breakfast hangout, Punto
Medio is ready to boost its pub credentials. Jayleen said plans are
underway to expand the tapas menu and to bring in more wines,
this time around barrel wine from Portland, Oregon. The first barrels,
which are coming in by ship, will arrive at the end of this month.
"From the beginning people have responded (to Punto Medio),"
said Jayleen with obvious satisfaction.
And with good reason. This cosy nook along ever changing Loiza St.,
in the heart of San Juan, is a great place to hang out by yourself or
with friends. The service is friendly, the venue inviting and the prices
won't drain your pocketbook.
Let's drink to that!
PUNTO MEDIO, #1762 Calle Loiza
787. 230.0230
Operating hours:
8 am to 8 pm Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday
8 am to 10 pm Thursday & Friday
9 am to 3 pm Saturday
10 am to 3 pm Sunday
☛ A GOOD PRODUCT
A cup of tea is comforting at all times of day, a hot drink that has a
soothing and calming effect on the spirit. And what better way to
heat up water than in this inexpensive yet totally delightful clear
glass kettle that lets you enjoy the process of boiling water thanks
to its transparent glass surface.
The Medelco 12-cup glass stovetop whistling kettle costs under $10
and is one of the best products around. With appropriate care, it
should last you a very long time.
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| Photography by Juliette Blasor Today is the tomorrow we worried about yesterday. UNKNOWN |
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