Old San Juan, Saddle Brook

Ropa vieja slow-simmered in garlic and spices from Old San Juan transports taste buds to the island of Puerto Rico, but not just the well-known tourist attractions. The menu delivers authentic tastes of Puerto Rico from its well-trod beaches to its tropical jungles. To set the scene, an indoor tree spreads its branches over the dining room and cave-like stone shelves store glasses and flatware. Servers blend cocktail mixes with BYOB libations at a bar that's offset by a wall of water trickling over stacked gray stones. Flat-screen TVs play sports highlights or the tree's favorite talk shows, and karaoke offers live entertainment once a month.