An iconic space on Calle Wilson in San Juan that had been closed for more than 15 years was restored and reopened as Basilisa restaurant.
After an estimated $100,000 investment in renovations and new equipment for the kitchen and bar areas, a process that took about a year, Basilisa is a new dining option offering Spanish food fused with a Puerto Rican touch, led by chefs Fernando Rivera and Carlo Marini.
The restaurant, which for now will operate Thursday through Monday from 4:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m., will seat 45 people and will create 12 new direct jobs distributed among kitchen staff, servers and bartenders.
For more than 25 years, this space was home to the well-known restaurant "La Fonda de Cervantes," a popular gathering place for prominent political figures and Puerto Rican families. That same intimate, family-gathering feel it once had is preserved in the renovated space.
"The atmosphere at Basilisa is designed and set up to welcome groups of family and friends. It's an ideal place for family and business gatherings. The menu is put together precisely to enjoy that kind of experience," said owner José Díaz.
"Basilisa" shares a corner with two historic businesses in the area: the landmark hotel Iberia San Juan and the Lindsay laundry, and according to the owner, it is an architectural gem that deserved to be restored. The menu features a wide variety of Spanish tapas with a Puerto Rican touch, including ceviche, pulpo a la gallega, gamba and calamares, among others.
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Main course options include cuts of meat such as lamb chops and veal ossobuco, among others. The fish selection includes turbot, cod fillet and more.
For more information, call (787) 998-1465 or (787) 528-5551, or find the official page of Basilisa Restaurante on Instagram.
This content was translated with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
