Enable JavaScript to run this app.
Skip to main content
OpenTable logo
  1. Home
  2. United States
  3. Caribbean
  4. Puerto Rico
  5. San Juan
An unforgettable experience #FlavorMeetsFire  - La Central by Mario Pagan, San Juan, PR

La Central by Mario Pagan

4.6
4.6
1356 Reviews
$50 and over
Steakhouse

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 p.m.
Booked 50 times today
Experiences are available.
  • Good for special occasions
  • Great for creative cocktails
  • Hot spot
Immerse in bold flavors at La Central by Mario Pagán, located in Distrito T-Mobile, San Juan, Puerto Rico.

This modern tropical steakhouse will activate your senses in every bocado. The smell of charcoal fills the air while the elegance of the prominent copper rum sits majestically in the heart of the bar while you enjoy our house cocktails, such as Jardín de Edén or Mete Caña. The fiery grill takes center stage as prime cuts like the Ribeye or the 30oz Chateaubriand are grilled to perfection. For a perfect ending, indulge in the sweetness of our ¿A quién le amarga? desserts, which combine flavors that will leave you craving.

Cigar, rum, and whiskey enthusiasts, see and don’t be seen from the discrete walls of our Cigar Room and enjoy a glass of aged rum.

For a unique experience, step into a Private Dining Room for up to 42 guests, with a variety of seasonal prix fixe menus inspired by local cuisine.

Reserve now and enjoy the hottest ste

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Elegant Dining
  • Price
    $50 and over
  • Cuisines
    Steakhouse, Puerto Rican, Latin American
  • Hours of Operation
    Lunch Wed–Sat 11:30 am–5:00 pm Dinner Mon, Tue 5:00 pm–10:00 pm Wed–Sat 5:00 pm–11:00 pm Sun 4:00 pm–10:00 pm
  • Phone number
    (787) 566-0505
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Formal Attire
  • Executive Chef
    Mario Pagán
  • Neighbourhood
    San Juan
  • Parking details
    Lunch: FREE Valet Parking. Wednesday to Friday 11:30am - 3:59pm. Dinner: $15 Valet Parking. Monday to Sunday 4:00 pm - Closing.
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cigar Room, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Entertainment, Full Bar, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Experiences

  • The Dark Side of the Grapes

    US$195.00 per person

    Prepaid

    Mar 22, 2025 only
    Step into The Dark Side of the Grapes, an intimate six-course dining experience where fire meets flavor and every plate tells a story. Chef José Cruz Prieto crafts a bold menu that journeys through rich textures and vibrant flavors, perfectly paired with an exclusive wine selection curated by Sommelier Miguel Seda. From delicate canapés to the final sweet bite, each course finds its perfect match in wines that elevate the dining experience—ending with a decadent panna cotta and a glass of Moscato d’Asti. Join us for an unforgettable evening where passion, flavor, and fine wine take center stage. Reserve your spot now and explore the darker side of the grape!
    The Dark Side of the Grapes photo

What 1,356 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.6
4.6 based on recent ratings
  • 4.7Food
  • 4.7Service
  • 4.8Ambience
  • 4.4Value

NoiseModerate

Loved For

  • Caribbean

    Steakhouse

  • Puerto Rico

    Hot spot

  • Puerto Rico

    Steakhouse

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
La Central by Mario Pagan offers an exceptional dining experience with "excellent service and food." Guests rave about the "incredible atmosphere" and the quality of dishes, including standout items like the "best octopus ever" and "perfectly cooked steak." While some found it pricey, the ambiance and attentive staff make it "100% recommended."

1,356 Reviews
  1. OpenTable Diner

    St. Louis

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    This place is a must to go to. Guillermo was the best server. It’s nice to have somebody that gives you suggestions and tells you what is the best thing to try even when you wouldn’t try it normally. He gave us the best suggestions of food and drinks. The short rib appetizer is amazing. You think you want to eat fish here, but the steaks are phenomenal. They are cooked in a way That let you taste the steak without too much seasoning or anything else. It was perfect. He was one of the best servers I have ever had, ask for him if you can. Every suggestion he made was amazing. I am not a rum drinker, but you have to have the rum drinks in San Juan. Hands-down one of the best places I’ve been to in a long time. And Guillermo made it one of the best experiences. 

    Is this helpful?

  2. ShelleJ

    VIP

    Orlando

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great service. The lobster was delishioys. I will be back

    Is this helpful?

  3. Luis

    Orlando

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Excellent steakhouse restaurant. Very friendly and attentive service. The cocktails were fantastic. The Picanha steak was perfectly cooked over a charcoal grill.

    Is this helpful?

  4. kim

    VIP

    Washington DC

    35 reviews

    4.0

    35 reviews

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    Food very good but we have had better dinners in San Juan. Took too long for drinks. Overall would recommend. Loved selection on menu.

    Is this helpful?

  5. OpenTable Diner

    New York City

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The ambiance, the food, the attentiveness and the overall vibe was amazing. Took my wife and our 3month old for her birthday dinner. Absolutely loved everything. Got a bottle of the Michelle Rose; shared the Octopus and black bean Hummus app and finished the dinner with a ribeye and rack of lamb (medium) with mash potatoes and asparagus. They give you a sorbet after the meal to help reset your palette. Had the chocolate and coconut sorbet for dessert. We spent around 300 between us two but the menu is honestly very fairly priced. Our server Paul was FANTASTIC. Amazing experience.

    Is this helpful?

  6. Nahall

    VIP

    Greater Boston

    23 reviews

    5.0

    23 reviews

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Swanky restaurant in a lively location. We were greeted promptly and sat near the kitchen. Our server made excellent drink, appy and dinner suggestions! The kitchen staff is amazing, working all meals over an open flame. Absolutely delicious!

    Is this helpful?

  7. Luis A

    Caribbean

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Excellente service and good food fast service good drink

    Is this helpful?

  8. Angelica

    Caribbean

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on February 20, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Excellent service and food! I’m happy! 100% recommend!

    Is this helpful?

  9. Siobhan

    VIP

    New York City

    10 reviews

    5.0

    10 reviews

    Dined on February 18, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Simply put - best meal in Puerto Rico we had. The Cesar salad was so different- yet so perfect - the crispy chic peas is what croutons should be jealous over, the beef tartar which I’m guessing was with quinoa was the best we ever had- the surprise dinner rolls were buttery but with a hint of salt matched with a basil garlic butter- never knew I needed it. The filets were cooked to perfection- truffle fries were crispy and flavored but oddly enough the star of the show was the chicken!!! Perfectly cooked- amazingly juicy and flavorful- I don’t think I’ve ever had or will ever have a better piece of chicken in my life. We were hesitant to book this place as it was fancier and not as authentic as some of our other choices- but this- by far was the best meal in PR and maybe one of our favorites ever. Top it off with fantastic service- hard earned money well spent

    Is this helpful?

  10. Gary

    Tahoe

    8 reviews

    5.0

    8 reviews

    Dined on February 18, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Second time dining here and as the first time the food is amazing, service is excellent definitely will return and recommend this restaurant

    Is this helpful?

FAQs

La Central by Mario Pagan is rated 4.6 stars by 1356 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 p.m.
Booked 50 times today
Experiences are available.
Google Map for La Central by Mario Pagan

250 Convention Boulevard, San Juan, PR 00907

Additional information

  • Neighbourhood
    San Juan
  • Hours of Operation
    Lunch Wed–Sat 11:30 am–5:00 pm Dinner Mon, Tue 5:00 pm–10:00 pm Wed–Sat 5:00 pm–11:00 pm Sun 4:00 pm–10:00 pm
  • Price
    $50 and over
  • Cuisines
    Steakhouse, Puerto Rican, Latin American
  • Dining style
    Elegant Dining
  • Dress code
    Formal Attire
  • Parking details
    Lunch: FREE Valet Parking. Wednesday to Friday 11:30am - 3:59pm. Dinner: $15 Valet Parking. Monday to Sunday 4:00 pm - Closing.
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive Chef
    Mario Pagán
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cigar Room, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Entertainment, Full Bar, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Wheelchair Access, Wine
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Cookies and Interest-Based Ads
  • Cookie Preferences
Copyright © 2024 OpenTable, Inc. 1 Montgomery St Ste 500, San Francisco CA 94104 - All rights reserved.
OpenTable is part of Booking Holdings, the world leader in online travel and related services.
Booking Logo
Priceline Logo
KAYAK Logo
Agoda Logo
OpenTable Logo