Posted by the La Isla team · June 6, 2014 · Tagged: events, world cup, world cup 2014
That’s right, folks — the 2014 World Cup in Brazil is finally here, and we are adjusting our hours for a few weeks so you don’t miss a minute of it. Here is what that means:
- We will be opening at 9am for the duration of the tournament.
- We will be offering our brunch during the first game each day — and, of course, cheering your favorite teams as we watch all the excitement that comes with this magnificent tournament.
First up: Brazil, followed by Mexico, Spain and Chile. Super psyched!!! May the best country win. Need a refresher on the tournament’s storied history before kickoff? Britannica’s World Cup overview will get you up to speed on every champion since 1930.
Why Watch Here?
Because soccer was made to be watched with food this loud. Picture it: a 9am kickoff, a plate of our Puerto Rican breakfast steaming in front of you, an ‘Old San Juan’ bloody mary within reach, and forty strangers who are suddenly your best friends because someone just hit the crossbar. Both our Ballard and Redmond dining rooms will have every match on, with the sound UP for the big games.
Match-Day Game Plan
- Morning matches: full brunch menu during the first game daily — empanadillas de huevo and mimosos are the official breakfast of group-stage drama
- Afternoon matches: lunch specials and pitchers of scratch lemonade for those “working from the bar” days
- Knockout rounds: happy hour pricing during select matches — keep an eye on the chalkboard
The Beautiful Game, Island Style
Soccer is the one language every table in our dining room already speaks. Puerto Rico may be better known for its baseball exports, but when the world’s tournament comes around, the whole Caribbean diaspora pulls up a chair — abuelas with strong opinions about defensive formations included. For one month every four years, our restaurant becomes a tiny United Nations with better snacks, and we would not have it any other way.
What to Eat While You Watch
A month of matches calls for a rotation, and our scouting report is ready. Empanadillas are the perfect one-handed food for matches you cannot look away from. Chicharrones de pollo and the gandules dip will feed a table through a full ninety minutes plus stoppage time. A pernil bowl is the right call for noon kickoffs when breakfast feels long ago, and penalty shootouts pair best with a steadying mojito — bartender’s orders.
Tournament Survival Tips
- Pace yourself. Sixty-four matches is a marathon. Hydrate with our scratch juices between the celebratory rounds.
- Scout the schedule. Group-stage mornings are mellow; elimination rounds get loud. Choose your atmosphere accordingly.
- Adopt a second team. Heartbreak insurance. The dining room consensus suggests anyone playing against last cycle’s champion.
- Befriend the regulars. Several of our brunch faithful can explain the offside rule using only sugar packets and a lime wedge. It is genuinely illuminating.
Pick Your Team, Keep Your Seat
Caribbean and Latin American pride runs deep in both dining rooms, so expect plenty of flags and friendly trash talk. House rules are simple: all fans welcome, all chants in good fun, and whoever knocks over a mojito during a goal celebration buys the next round. Tables go fast for marquee matchups — Redmond fans can request a reservation through our contact page; in Ballard, come early and claim your corner.
One month, sixty-four matches, one champion — and a whole lot of pernil. We will see you at kickoff. ¡Vamos!