A lone standout in a neglected sector of Old San Juan when it first opened in 1996, The Parrot gave birth to the entire SoFo restaurant district that today surrounds it, an exuberant area with cobbled stoned streets lined with restaurants, bars, plazas, music and happy people. Since then, this vibrant Nuevo Latino eatery has relied on inventive updates of Puerto Rican and Latino classics, and the warmest and smoothest wait staff in the city, to stay relevant. Among the stars of the menu here are passion fruit cocktails, plantain crusted mahi mahi and the restaurant’s wildly delicious burger, topped with the main ingredients of a Cubano sandwich: roast pork, Virginia ham, and Swiss cheese. The menu has grown increasingly varied and sophisticated throughout the years, but this place is still built on good, friendly service, a hopping bar scene and bold and flavorful Latino cooking. Note: The Parrot's owners/creators, Emilio Figueroa and Gigi Zaferos, are also behind Dragonfly, Toro Salao, and Aguaviva in the neighborhood, so if you have trouble getting in here, try one of those.