Pirilo’s Pizza Rústica

           A couple of years back, Eduardo Rubio and Enrique Rossy saw the need for a local pizza place at Old San Juan. They saw an opportunity for the upcoming of a possible business and firm clients looking for a new place to go. When a house in Old San Juan at Tanca Street was put on sale they found it as an obvious option for their restaurant. Rubio desired to base the theme of the restaurant in a fictional character and developed the name Pirilo. Pirilo was a young boy who loved pizza. The restaurant is a family friendly environment and is decorated in representation of Pirilo’s tastes with family ornaments and pictures. In the food menu, designed and developed by Enrique Rossy, one can see small hand written notes by Pirilo himself where he dedicates plenty of dishes to his crush Genoveva, his aunt and grandparents. Enrique Rossy described the menu at the interview I had with him, as simple and dedicated to Puerto Rican’s taste. The menu offers dishes based on traditional Puerto Rican food such as: croquetas de mamposteao which are fried balls inspired by a Puerto Rican rice and beans mixed with Spanish chorizo and accompanied with their house cilantro sauce, Pizza Pirilo which is a sweet plantain and ground beef pizza based on el piñón, buñuelos de yautía which are based on the local alcapurrias, carne frita which is fried pork that comes with caramelized onions and Pizza Tripleta inspired by the Puerto Rican meat lovers sandwich.             
         After opening the first restaurant in Old San Juan, in 2010 and seeing their success Rossy and Rubio knew they had enough clients to open up the second floor of the house in Tanca Street. Later, they opened two more restaurants: one in McLeary Street at Loiza and the other one at Dorado in rute 639 near the Dorado Beach Resort. The owner described any other business nearby not at competition, but as colleagues. Enrique Rossy said,“No business affects our sales; any other enterprise brings movement to the area.” This restaurant, apart from being owned by Puerto Ricans, supports local crops and companies. They offer Ocean Lab and Fresh Of Keg (F.O.K.) draft and bottled beers, as well as buy their desserts from a Puerto Rican baker.  Along with their craft beers and desserts the restaurant provides fresh juices brought by a local business owner and by 30% of their vegetables and spices from local farmers.

Pirilo’s Pizza Rústica is great place to eat even when you are not in the mood for pizza. They have a great arugula salad topped with walnuts, feta cheese, tomatoes, and their Caribbean cherry house vinaigrette. Also, they make great raviolis and home-made lasagnas. The skirt steak is my favorite, accompanied by a pasta side with fresh creamy pesto. .The restaurant offers gluten free options (appetizers, main dishes and a dark chocolate cheesecake) and also provide vegan options (appetizers, Pizza Vegana and a rice and coconut based cheesecake with a raspberry topping).Whenever you get a chance, they have a great bar menu as well! Look them up and enjoy their delicious food yourself!