Most gas station “restaurants” serve fast foods, fries and poorly brewed coffee. I’ve been on many road trips in the states, and although I’ve been to many gas stations, I’ve never come across one with a gourmet restaurant and excellent cafe inside. That is, until I visited Pimentón, a pizzeria inside a Shell gas station on the highway between San Juan and Rio Grande (and not too far from the airport).
Visiting the Shell station, one would never have guessed it was home to such wonderful cuisine. But after heading inside, I was immediately greeted by a cozy coffee shop interior. There are a few tables in front of a bar with a coffee machine, pastries and several baristas there to greet you. Rows of refrigerators housed an extensive selection of artisanal beers.
I ordered a cappuccino, which was delicious – and only $2. It’s made with the same select Gustos “chupacabra” blend that we serve at the Rainforest Inn.
The coffee shop, Cafe la Estacion, gas station and pizzeria are all owned by Daniel Rivera. He bought the gas station in 2012, and wanted to do something different with it. There was a lack of good coffee in the area at that time, so in 2014, he started Cafe la Estacion.
One year later he added on the pizzeria, the entrance to which is a door a few feet away from the coffee bar as well as another main entrance outside. Pimentón offers wonderful appetizers, pastas and italian entrees. But the real delight is the pizza, which is made with “tipo 00” pizza flour and cooked in an 800 degree brick oven. There our several gourmet toppings to choose from including our Rainforest Inn favorite a vegetarian one which can have a delicious white sauce instead of tomato.
Another special part of Pimentón is the seating. Although there’s an indoor dining room with tables spaced apart (more than normal because of Covid), the restaurant also has options for people who want even more privacy. Just a few steps away, there is a beautiful courtyard with several outdoor tables. Surrounding these table are seven trailers, each equipped with AC units, televisions and table space for eight people who can enjoy a private room with wine and food from the restaurant.
Daniel said the whole outdoor area was created because of COVID-19, but it’s here to stay. He hopes that soon the space will be used to hold events, like the Jazzfest Pimentón used to host.
Daniel owns the gas station and both restaurants, and he’s always expanding. Listen to our podcast to hear more about how he started Pimentón and what he envisions for the future as well as an additional new location..
