Restaurants are nominated by judges from the Lazos de Oro circuit, beginning a rigorous evaluation process that extends over several months. Each proposal is visited, analyzed, and carefully assessed to ensure fair and consistent criteria.
Participating concepts must meet the following requirements:
Absolutely not.
Pop-ups, culinary events, residencies, ghost kitchens, catering services, deliveries, and similar categories are not accepted.
Judges remain anonymous at all times. They are connected to the food industry in different ways, including chefs, sommeliers, managers, distributors, marketing professionals, and passionate diners.
Current judges recommend future panel members. Every new judge is selected by invitation only and at La Mafia, Puerto Rico's discretion.
Each judge brings a different perspective and follows the established evaluation pillars: menu, service, ambiance, innovation, and justification. For previous winners that are nominated again, consistency is also added and evaluated with greater rigor and precision.
Flavor, techniques, coherence, cooking, skill, creativity, and other aspects.
Sound experience, cleanliness, smell, dining room control, and guest flow, among other aspects.
Reservation system, efficiency in restaurant-to-customer communication, attention, speed, staff knowledge, and handling of unusual situations.
Initiatives or philosophies that move the local culinary industry forward, such as molecular gastronomy, cultural preservation, philanthropic work, or in-house farming.
A category of its own. It considers the overall value of what was consumed, the restaurant's execution, and its mission to include every diner.
Exact fulfillment of the offering that is promoted, served, and sold during each visit.
The process is divided into three core pillars:
Each pillar generates arguments for or against the evaluated concept. Together, they strengthen the protocol and help ensure a fair and impartial decision.
Written statements are extremely important.
Every time judges visit a concept, they must write two statements: one highlighting positive aspects and another identifying areas of opportunity. This helps deepen the panel's decisions and strengthen communication throughout the process.
The statements will be the only element shared with participating concepts during the process, and the judges will remain anonymous at all times.
No. No member of the La Mafia, Puerto Rico team participates in nominations, evaluations, or final decisions. Our role is to guide the process, receive the information, and administer it properly.
Yes. If a concept withdraws and later wishes to participate again, it must submit a reconsideration letter to be considered in a future evaluation.
Our first evaluation circuit took place in 2023 with the participation of three judges.
Yes. The event to announce the official list and present the awards will take place on May 13, 2026 at Vivo Beach Club in Carolina. The event is by invitation only.
It recognizes the extraordinary gastronomy of a restaurant or concept with more than 25 years of operation in Puerto Rico.
This award is determined by a committee of three judges specializing in the island's gastronomy, culture, and culinary history. They evaluate areas such as menu, history, ambiance, and more.
A restaurant that has already received this recognition can receive it again after 10 years.
The winners of this award are:
This recognition honors concepts with outstanding hospitality. A special committee of three front-of-house service experts performs this evaluation, focusing only on service, ambiance, and its impact on the culinary experience.
Nominees in this category are selected from the regular judges' evaluations. This committee begins its process during March 2026.
Winners of this award are:
