After our tour of the Bacardi plant, we set out for Ponce, but leisurely, as we were told it's only 90 minutes away. You'll realize what a joke that is later on. If you look at a map, Bayamon is southeast of Cataño so we're going in the right direction. We were on Route 2 which is a main artery. We stopped on a side street in Bayamón for lunch. This is a half-residential, half-industrial area, and the restaurant we entered was not terribly fancy, which means the cuisine will be great.

It also meant that Chuck's suspicious antennas will go up, and he'll stick to something "safe". It was not very crowded, but there were 2 businessmen at one of the tables. Our server was a lanky guy who brought us the menus which were so very colorful, and even have ads for the dry cleaners in the front. Hadn't seen that in ages! By the way, Los Gorditos means the little fat ones; it is also an expression of endearment where, if you call your husband or wife by that name, it is not regarded as an insult.

The menu is comida tipica criolla which is very typical food for the island. I ordered the carne frita (fried beef) with amarillas (yellow plantains, fried and slightly sweet); the beef is so tender that you can take it apart with a fork but, there's too much fat attached, so I have to perform surgery in order not to eat it. Chuck, the adventurer, settled for fried mozarella sticks . With coke, the total bill is $11.00 . Amazing.

A few other folks come through the doors; among them is a delivery man with 4 jugs of juice in each hand and I wanted to capture him with the camera but he was too darn fast. A woman also came in, and must either be a regular, or the owner's lover, as she made her way behind the cash register, and they took turns trying to lift each other.

I recommend this place only because this is going to give you the real Puerto Rico, not the place near the Marriott or the Hilton, or the SJ Towers. Even if the meat is slightly greasy, you are going to taste authentic island food.