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Indoor dining area  - El Nuevo Acuario, Carolina, PR

El Nuevo Acuario

4.8
4.8
26 Reviews
$30 and under
Seafood

Make a reservation

2 people
8:00 PM
Booked 2 times today
  • Charming
  • Neighborhood gem
  • Good for groups
Nestled in a quaint fishing village just five minutes outside San Juan, El
Nuevo Acuario offers an authentic taste of the sea. This charming, family-run seafood restaurant is a hidden gem where the daily catch arrives straight from the local fishermen’s boats to your plate. The rustic setting, with ocean views and a warm, laid-back atmosphere, creates the perfect backdrop for enjoying fresh Caribbean flavors. From grilled lobster, whole fried fish to steak and mofongo stuffed with shrimp, every dish is a celebration of Puerto Rico’s coastal bounty. Locals and visitors alike come for the food, but stay for the genuine hospitality and the unbeatable seaside vibe.

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Seafood, Vegetarian / Vegan, Puerto Rican
  • Hours of operation
    Mon–Fri 4:00 pm–9:30 pm Sat 12:00 pm–9:30 pm
  • Phone number
    (787) 662-8258
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Smart Casual
  • Executive chef
    Leonardo Boitel

What 26 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.8
4.8 based on recent ratings
  • 4.9Food
  • 4.7Service
  • 4Ambience
  • 4.6Value

NoiseModerate

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
El Nuevo Acuario delights with "incredible food" and "excellent" service. Renowned for its "firecracker grouper" and "whole red snapper," this hidden gem is a culinary treasure in Puerto Rico. While the ambiance is simple, the fresh seafood and vibrant flavors make each visit unforgettable. Highly recommended for seafood lovers!

26 Reviews
  1. Ana

    Greater Boston

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    The restaurant does charge for every side ordered. The meal only includes the main protein. Otherwise, the food was delicious and served timely.

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  2. Christina

    Orlando

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on February 15, 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 2
    Delicious food but lackluster ambience. Chose location based on other wonderful reviews. When we pulled up in the uber there wasn’t even a sign so we had to ask. It was Valentine’s Day so we were dressed up - definitely not needed! We chose to eat outside but option was table with folding chairs. However the food was really good! Firecracker grouper and lobster empanadas was our appetizer of choice. I wasn’t crazy about the empanadas but they were different. Everything arrived HOT! My friend ordered the steak and I had the whole snapper which again was very tasty. I did request mofongo but received rice and beans. Beans were more broth than beans but again great flavor. If you like margaritas- try the passion fruit- no syrups real fruit - really good! I would recommend just wish it had a better vibe but think that’s par for course in the area.

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  3. Angus

    VIP

    Greater Boston

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on February 14, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Great food, terrific service, we had a wonderful Valentine’s Day dinner.

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  4. Andrew

    Tampa

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on February 4, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We went here for a nice dinner for our last night in PR. The food was delicious and the service was great. Everyone was very nice.

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  5. Sally

    New York City

    11 reviews

    5.0

    11 reviews

    Dined on February 3, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The best firecracker grouper and coconut shrimp. If you crave tres leches cake dine there Wed/Thurs before they run out!

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  6. Roy

    Chicago

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on January 30, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great service and food. Whole red snapper was delicious as was mofongo that came with it!

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  7. Mary

    San Antonio

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on January 18, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Fabulous dinner- grouper the absolute best appetizer. Red snapper tops octopus shrimp all wonderfully prepared and presented. Great wait staff. Very attentive- a most pleasant evening. Highly recommend dining here.

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  8. Mike

    VIP

    New York City

    41 reviews

    4.0

    41 reviews

    Dined on January 18, 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    The fresh seafood was delicious! The firecracker grouper and the seafood rice were outstanding. People are very nice and accommodating. 

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  9. Sonia

    Calgary

    6 reviews

    5.0

    6 reviews

    Dined on January 15, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The firecracker grouper appetizer is out of this world! We also had the Red Snapper (chillo) entree with the seafood rice and both were excellent. Highly recommend!

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  10. David

    New York City

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on January 10, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 2
    Hidden gem! Great food and prices. Great service as well.

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FAQs

El Nuevo Acuario is rated 4.8 stars by 26 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people
8:00 PM
Booked 2 times today
Google Map for El Nuevo Acuario

Carretera 187, Punta Cangrejo (Piñones), 00772, Puerto Rico, Carolina, PR 00772

Additional information

  • Cross street
    Highway 187 Pinones
  • Neighborhood
    Carolina
  • Hours of operation
    Mon–Fri 4:00 pm–9:30 pm Sat 12:00 pm–9:30 pm
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Seafood, Vegetarian / Vegan, Puerto Rican
  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Dress code
    Smart Casual
  • Parking details
    Public Lot
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive chef
    Leonardo Boitel
  • Additional
    Beer, Cocktails, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Vegan, View, Wheelchair Access, Wine
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