A Moveable Feast

You never have to worry about leaving Annie's hungry.

We always do this. Every single time. Without fail. We order too much food. As the server navigates through the crowd, balancing our plates on her forearms, we realize that we’ve done it again. It’s just that everything on the menu at Annie’s Place is so good, we can never make up our minds on what to get. The choice between mofongo, arroz, and the fried delights that are a staple of Puerto Rican cuisine, proved too much and as our food arrives, we know we will be taking leftovers. Ain’t nothing wrong with that.

Annie’s Place is located in the middle of the stretch of Playa Combate in the southwestern corner of the island. Whenever I find myself in Cabo Rojo, I make sure I stop by. Perched on stilts, the restaurant extends from the edge of the beach out onto the water. It’s not uncommon to see boats drop anchor right next to Annie’s to order some takeout while jet skis rev by in the distance.

Mofongo con Camarones is a Puerto Rican staple, and rarely does it get better than the one served up at Annie's.

As we eat, the karaoke is in full effect. Every Sunday, locals belt out boleros with all the panache of retired stars. I’m certain that one of them actually is a professional musician, as he eschews looking at the monitor to improvise with the crowd. And while at first, I found the idea of karaoke while I eat to be less than thrilling, I can honestly say that it compliments the vibe of Annie’s perfectly. Everything is laid-back. The food is delicious. And after a long day at the beach, there’s nothing better than kicking back with a full belly and a beer.