Flipping through Frommer's Puerto Rico in the Denver airport before we left, I zoned in on a few restaurant recommedations. Contemporary cuisine, reasonable prices, and authentic Latin flavour were the criteria for a good meal. Since we were planning to be in Old San Juan around dinner time, that helped with geography.

Sweaty and hungry, Andrew and I opened the tall yellow door to the Parrot Club at 5PM. We were shoo'd away by the busty waitress, "Hey guys, we don't open until 6PM. Sorry!" Andrew's face dropped. With no choice, and with a strong physical desire for air conditioning, we walked back 100 feet to Tinno's bar. Two margaritas, six glasses of water and a bowl of chips and salsa later, it was finally time to eat.

The Parrot Club is fresh and dark, selectively air-conditioned depending on where you happen to be sitting. The hostess was friendly and chit-chatted with us about Puerto Rico, Costa Rica and her American travels as she got us seated at a corner table. The menus she gave us were short and in Spanglish, making it a little difficult for a couple of gringos like us to navigate. Andrew's rudimentary high school Spanish came in handy (but usually was most effective when cussing at bad drivers).

Service was quick and the food arrived looking splendid. We weren't disappointed by the taste as the food popped with flavour in our mouths! Andrew's beef was dark and rich, my pork tenderloins were tender and drenched in a thick soy syrup. My mouth is watering again just typing this.

The Parrot Club. On San Juan. Appetizers $4-$10. Entrees $15-35.