Dine Out West

Sophia's Caribbean Sushi Bar

Photos supplied

What’s best out west? Participants in the recent Saborea Puerto Rico, A Culinary Extravaganza, held at famous Escambrón Beach in San Juan, discovered dishes that dazzled them—and inspired trips to the Porta de Sol region of the island.

Sophia’s Caribbean Sushi Bar (787-370-3605), located at PR115 at km 12.4 in Rincón, has garnered top ratings on restaurant review sites, including such comments as “Some of the best, most inventive sushi I’ve had” to “A little gem.” The restaurant was the only one in Puerto Rico to make Miamibased Caribbean Journal’s 2014 Best Sushi in the Caribbean list.

Chef Joerick Rivera, Sophia’s

Co-owners Chef Joerick Rivera and Charlyn Rodríguez (the restaurant is named after their youngest daughter) and their team prepare and serve some of the best Japanese and Latin American dishes—and, of course, sushi—in Puerto Rico, the culinary capital of the Caribbean. The fish is all locally sourced—for freshness and to support local businesses.

If you are lucky enough to live in the Rincón area, Sophia’s will cater your next party. You can order take out, enjoy the restaurant’s intimate indoor or outdoor settings, or just sip one of its three trademark sangrias outside as the famed Rincón sunset does it thing.

Sophia’s is open Mondays through Saturday from 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. and Sundays from 2:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. You can keep up with the action at the restaurant by following it on Facebook: “Sophia’s Sushi.”

 

Fish Taco Appetizer, Textura Restaurant

 Textura Restaurant (787-436-5953), located on PR2 km at 120.8 in Aguadilla, serves Caribbean specialties created by chef-owner Oscar Estrada in a small, charmingly casual dining room—and also offers catering and takeout services.

At last count there were 54 places to dine in the Aguadilla area, but there is only one at the very top of the list: Textura. Diners almost invariably give it five stars—one of the 72 happy reviewers on one site calls it “Simply delicious! Best restaurant in Puerto Rico’s west coast.”

The newest menu features traditional Caribbean dishes prepared with a flair: local beefsteak served with a creamy mushroom sauce, pork loin with grilled pineapple and coconut sauce, Parmesan-breaded chicken breast with a fresh tomato and basil sauce, and broiled shrimp with lemon in cilantro oil. The Fish of the Day is just that—available only when local anglers snag it! Among the appetizers are breaded fish tacos with cilantro mayonnaise and homemade coleslaw.

Chef Oscar Estrada, Textura Restaurant

 Textura is open for lunch on weekdays from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Dinner is served Wednesday and Thursday from 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 4:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. The restaurant is open for lunch or early dinner on Sundays from noon to 6:30 p.m. You can see the latest menu (and confirm operating hours) by searching “Textura Restaurant” on Facebook.