Hidden Gems Of Roatan – Puky’s McNab Place Restaurant

Sunday Afternoon at McNab Place Restaurant

For my second installment in the Hidden Gems of Roatan series I decided to make a trip towards the eastern side of this beautiful island. Most of the resorts and “touristy” stuff is in the west, especially the famous West End. I stopped at a restaurant called McNab Place Restaurant, in Jonesville as I had heard they had a magnificent Sunday BBQ.McNab Place Restaurant, also called Puky’s after their late owner, Gerald “Puky” McNab, is a dockside restaurant and bar that offers a full selection of seafood, much of which may have been caught that very morning.

Puky’s McNab Place Restaurant has a famous Sunday BBQ that offers a choice of very generously sized pork chops, chicken, steak or fish. On the advice of the couple I came with who had been to Puky’s many times, I ordered the pork chops – and a cold Port Royal of course….

First let me say that “generously sized” is an understatement. As I walked by the grill I noticed the pork chops were at least an inch thick and I was told that at times they are much larger.

The meal comes with your choice of meat, potato salad, baked beans, a flour tortilla, and a glass of red wine for only about $14.00. Try getting that at Outback!!! The rest of the menu includes a variety of fish, lobster, and shrimp dishes all very reasonably priced. They also have burgers, and chicken for those less adventurous.

Their menu prices are extremely reasonable, with their seafood prices running between 120 Lempiras for Pescado Frito (Fried Fish) and 200 Lempiras for Langosto en Salda de Hongos (Lobster in Mushroom Sauce) (approx 20 Lempiras = $1 US). Where in the States can you get a lobster dish for $11.00? They also offer a hamburger for 75 LPS ($3.75) and chicken fingers for 80 LPS ($4).

While our meals were being prepared I took a little walk on the dock and admired the beautiful view of the Caribbean Sea and the Jonesville Creek from our Dockside hut. I also managed to down a few more Port Royals while waiting.

As with many local type restaurants here in Roatan, The entrees took quite a while to arrive, but when you consider the thickness of the chops and the amount they were preparing, it was understandable. Any reason to have a few more Port Royals is fine with me!

Once the food arrived I couldn’t wait to sample the pork chop after hearing so much about it. I was not disappointed. The chop was over an inch thick and it was cooked perfectly all the way through. It was tender and juicy and there were no charred or burnt parts on the outside. I am not big fan of my meat being smothered with BBQ sauce as I enjoy the flavors of the meat. It was covered with a light layer of BBQ sauce.

In other words, it was perfect. The accompaniments were also very tasty, especially the potato salad. I passed on the red wine and had a cold soda to wash it all down with.

Overall I would rate this meal as excellent…very surprised at how well the chop was prepared as my experience with pork chops in the States has been less than stellar.