We stumbled upon "El Patio" during a scavenger hunt-like search for the "cuisine of the locals," after hours of strolling along the streets of Old San Juan. El Patio de Sam is located in the central plaza district, which comes alive after dark, especially on weekends. I later learned how unremarkably typical El Patio's menu is as Puerto Rican-style restaurants go, but it was all new to us at the time.
The Puerto Rican-style pot roast I had was about as exciting as it sounds and tasted pretty much like American-style pot roast, save the interesting way in which the beef was cut and presented "au jus." Instead of the usual potatoes on the side, it was served with Puerto Rican rice. I enjoyed the flavor and texture of this rice and it was a perfect complement to the dish. The salad greens were unmentionable. To make the meal more interesting, I decided to try one of the local brews. The unexpected surprise of the evening was the dessert I chose -- guanabana cheesecake. Absolutely the most amazing cheesecake I have ever had. It wasn't really the exotic-sounding guanabana-flavored topping that made the difference. The cheesecake itself was awesome!
Another surprise is the inside atrium and garden-like family-style setting. If you plan to try this place, don't expect an earth-shattering experience and try to get seated before sunset so that you can enjoy the atrium lighting at before dusk. The environment is cozy-quiet, but definitely family-style.