If you’re in the mood for seafood, Puerto Spain on 14th Street in Hoboken is the restaurant to visit. With an extensive Spanish cuisine menu, it has perfected a terrific combination of an enjoyable atmosphere with quality food.
Beni Cubeiro and Andres Couceiro, Puerto’s owners, opened the restaurant in 1989. Since then they have worked to keep customers satisfied with a combination of delicious entrees and excellent service.
"Freshness is a huge issue," Cubeiro said. "But we also want to make sure we give the customers good portions."
Puerto orders the minimum amount of food they think they need in order to keep everything fresh, Cubeiro said. He added that service is also an important part of running a successful restaurant and it can never be overlooked.
Puerto has managed to perfect this part of the business as well. The waiters are friendly and helpful, and a few even made me laugh several times during the evening.
Puerto offers the option of outside seating during the summer. The restaurant is modest in size, fitting about three dozen people in the main dining room comfortably. There is a nautical theme on the walls, and I found myself staring at a framed poster that explained the different maritime knots.
Everyone in the restaurant looked like they were having an enjoyable evening. There were smiles on all the customers’ faces, and energetic conversation went on all around me. The entertaining casual atmosphere at Puerto must rub off on the diners as soon as they walk in the door.
Lobster and sangria
I began my meal with a pitcher of sangria. It was delicious, sweet and fruity. The waiter made sure to get fruit in every glass he poured, and when I poured a glass myself, he jokingly told me I was stealing his job.
I tried the garlic soup. The garlic adds an incredible taste, but the bread and other ingredients in the bowl stopped the garlic from overpowering the soup. Spain also offers several other soups including black bean. The appetizers range from $6 to $9.
As soon as I had walked in the door at the beginning of the night, a platter on the table next to me caught my eye. On that table were some of the largest shrimp I had ever seen. I immediately asked my waiter about them and he informed me the jumbo shrimp cocktail was one of the specials for the evening. These shrimp were incredible. Three were included in the appetizer, and that was definitely enough for two. Any more and they would have to call it an entrée.
For the main course I tried the lobster tails stuffed with crab meat. The tails were a good size and stuffed to the brim. They were seasoned perfectly. The dish included a side of rice and potato crisps. The crisps were the freshest, most delicious potato chips. I wish more restaurants offered these as a side item.
I also tried the lobster Diablo. This is a huge entrée and if you like spicy food I suggest you try it. In Diablo, the chef prepares the lobster with a variety of peppers.
Puerto’s menu is extensive and it includes plenty of seafood, and other traditional entrees like chicken, veal and steak ranging from $15 to $25.
For dessert I had a piece of pinoli cake. It was a vanilla sponge cake with icing and pine nuts sprinkled all over the outside. It was spongy and tasty. I also tried the flan, which was sweet and creamy.
Puerto Spain is located at 116 14th St. in Hoboken. For more information call (201) 420-7008. They are open seven days a week for lunch and dinner. Parking is available. q