El Negocio de Panchi
Chef Panchi's creative Puerto Rican cooking in a small wooden house, one of Ponce's top-rated restaurants; reservations required.
This small restaurant is run by chef Francisco 'Panchi' Zayas and sits in a wooden cabin 6.1 km along Highway PR-14 in the Cerrillos district, east of the city. A local food guide calls it a hidden gem of the south. The menu centers on fresh meat and seafood, blending international techniques with Creole flavors. Frequently praised dishes include mushrooms stuffed with Parma ham and Manchego cheese, crab cakes, and escargot in puff pastry. It is open for dinner only, Tuesday to Saturday, and has limited seating. The official tourism office recommends booking ahead. You will need a car to get there.
Opening hours
Tue–Sat 16:00–21:00; closed Sunday and Monday
Nearby sights
- Tibes Indigenous Ceremonial Center
- Museo de la Historia de Ponce
- Plaza del Mercado Isabel II
- Teatro La Perla
- Parque de Bombas
- Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe
- Plaza Las Delicias
- Casa Armstrong-Poventud