Puerto Rico is the first Latin American place I visited and while I was there I ate a lot of pork and had a great trip. I don’t think I’ve had Puerto Rican food in years since that vacation.
That changed today and Crocante exceeded my expectations. Maybe it’s because I didn’t do much restaurant research while I was in Puerto Rico, but this restaurant here in Orlando was better than most places I had over in San Juan without the slow service.
Seafood Rice Must Order
First dish we got was the seafood rice which the closest thing I can compare it to is paella. My first thought was the serving was kind of small for the $36 price tag and there wasn’t much visible seafood in the rice other than the shrimp on top. The flavor was really good though. The creamy sauce they drizzled on top added some richness to the umami packed rice. The shrimp were perfectly cooked, snappy and plump, and the plantain crisps on top were a nice garnish that added a light crunch to every bite.
Roti Kan Kan Good
We also got the roti grill mixed tray which contained a lot of their meat options.
Chicken
The chicken was decent. I never order chicken at restaurants other than fried chicken because I fear it being dry, especially if it’s roast chicken, but this was well cooked. Not dripping with juice but it was tender and well seasoned. Reminded me of a better Costco rotisserie chicken. Not my favorite but I wouldn’t be mad about getting it.
Chicken Longaniza
The chicken sausage was just alright, a bit dry but very flavorful. It was better with some chimichurri.
Morcilla
I preferred the blood sausage surprisingly. I’ve eaten organ meat plenty of times so blood is an ingredient I’ve had before. It’s not irony, it’s very savory with an almost crumbly texture, but the addition of the rice and fat gave the sausage more of a bite. I liked it but it was a little salty.
Skirt Steak
My favorite from the plate was the skirt steak. Skirt steak, I’m thinking okay good beefy flavor but usually more of a chew. But this steak which we ordered medium rare was very tender. I could see the fibers of the steak barely holding together in some pieces. It was my favorite from the meat tray and the accompanying chimichurri added some nice acidity and herbaceousness.
Sides
I won’t go into detail on the sides since they’re not a focal point, but the salad was a typical average salad and the cornbread was good. It’s more like the northern style cornbread which is on the sweeter side like a muffin. The tostones were good too and this is coming from someone that typically doesn’t like them, but fresh out the fryer when they’re crispy and tender it’s great filler food.
Atmosphere & Mood
The restaurant is very large and can accommodate a lot of people, so this is definitely a place you could go with a small group like a family or some friends. As long as they enjoy Puerto Rican food they will have something they like. They also have a bar for people that want to do some drinking and a kids menu if you need the chicken tenders to keep the kids occupied while the adults enjoy the meal. While Crocante is an elevated Puerto Rican spot where the prices are higher than your typical mom and pop Latin restaurant, the quality of the food justifies the premium.
The VerdictRecommended
Crocante exceeded my expectations and will be my go to if I’m ever craving Puerto Rican and Latin cuisine in general. The skirt steak alone is worth the visit and the seafood rice, despite the small looking portion for $36, delivers on flavor. This is a spot that takes the food seriously without the slow service I experienced at most places in San Juan.
✓Skirt steak was really tender.
✓Seafood rice was really flavorful.
✗Rotisserie chicken is just average.
Tips for Visiting
Get the skirt steak medium rare, it’s the best thing on the meat tray
The seafood rice is worth it despite looking small for $36, the flavor and quality is there
Blood sausage is surprisingly good if you’re open to it
Skip ordering chicken unless you just want something safe and familiar
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