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Juanita Bananas - Reviews
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Ann S. (---.nyc.res.rr.com)
Date:   01-21-09 14:35

I was just in Culebra with my boyfriend over the New Year's holiday. We decided to go to Juanita's for New Year's Eve...we had their tasting menu. The food was okay, the root vegetable soup was the best. The fact that the dinner for two was over $150.00 was bad enough for adequate food, but to top that off we both became violently ill about an hour after eating there. Our New Year's Eve was ruined by trips to the bathroom all night long, into New Year's Day. Not a great way to start the New Year.
To make matters worse when we went to the restaurant to let them know we got sick after eating at their establishment(several locals told us to tell them, that they would appreciate the information), the manager, Javier Cabrera, was the most obnoxiously, rude person I've ever dealt with at a place of business. He basically laughed at us and said he would offer us another dinner, but we'd probably think we'd get sick again. I don't find anything funny about paying $150.00 for a meal that made us take turns in the bathroom all night and made us lose a day of our vacation. He also said that if we could prove we got sick from his restaurant he might be able to do something. I don't think he'd want the type of proof we would have given him.
Basically, the behavior of Mr. Cabrera left a worst taste in my mouth and soul than his restaurant's food did.
I would not recommend the place on many levels.

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Re: Juanita Bananas - stay away!
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Brian Redmon (---.sta.embarqhsd.net)
Date:   01-21-09 15:17

WOW..... Good to know.

Brian

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Re: Juanita Bananas - stay away!
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: bosie (---.ulmer.com)
Date:   01-21-09 15:17

Wow, such a shame as I have always heard that Juanita Banana's is good. There is another negative review on TA, maybe something has changed?
Ann, did you meet or know of any others that became ill? Was the restaurant packed? Could there have been any other source of your illness?

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Re: Juanita Bananas - stay away!
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Ann S. (---.nyc.res.rr.com)
Date:   01-21-09 17:07

We were only on Culebra for 4 days. The restaurant is small, the other few tables had people at them, but we didn't bump into anyone else that got sick.
We had both eaten different things about 8 hours before eating at Juanita's and felt fine.
It just seems too coincidental that we both ate the same thing and got sick at the same time after eating there.
The whole experience was made worse by Javier Cabrera's obnoxious, disrespectful reaction.

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Re: Juanita Bananas - stay away!
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Debbie (---.sip.asm.bellsouth.net)
Date:   01-21-09 20:28

I've eaten at JB at least a half dozen times and have never found Javier to be anything less than a perfect gentleman. I have also met him in town/outside the restaurant and have had the same experience - very nice, caring gentleman.

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Re: Juanita Bananas - stay away!
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Ann S. (---.nyc.res.rr.com)
Date:   01-22-09 00:09

All I can tell you is my experience and how I was treated.
I thought people should know....they can make up their own minds.

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Re: Juanita Bananas - stay away!
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Mort (---.tampabay.res.rr.com)
Date:   01-22-09 10:04

Ann, fair enough. Your opinion is noted.

But also know that we have no choice but consider the possibility that you have some kind of axe to grind.

You have a total of 4 posts on this board as I write this, 3 of which are in this thread. Therefore you've previously never been contributor to the board in any way shape or form, yet your first contribution is to try to put a longtime Culebra proprietor out of business.

You also imply that you were the soul of graciousness and politeness when you approached the owner the next day and he was the one who was the epitome of rudeness. I would like to hear his side of the story before drawing conclusions.

And it looks like he offered you a free meal, which seems very fair to me. Realistically he couldn't just give you your money back because some people are scammers (I worked in the restaurant industry and believe me, I've seen countless ways that people try to score free meals, complaints about food poisoning being among the most popular.)

I mean this as no offense to you at all, and perhaps I'm being unfair. It's just that every once in awhile people show up on this board to try to destroy someone and we never hear from them again. Makes one wonder, that's all.

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Re: Juanita Bananas - stay away!
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Ann S. (---.nyc.res.rr.com)
Date:   01-22-09 10:12

Mort, I have written on this board before about the place we stayed at, Tamarindo Estates, which I gave a rave review because the place and the people who run it were amazing and I thought people should know.
I have worked in restaurants before as well and I know how to listen and treat someone with respect, which I did not receive.
No axe to grind, just thought people should know my experience.

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Re: Juanita Bananas - stay away!
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Mort (---.tampabay.res.rr.com)
Date:   01-22-09 10:55

Thanks for clarifying, Ann. Glad you're not the "hit and run" type that we sometimes (albeit rarely) see on the board.

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Re: Juanita Bananas - stay away!
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: cw (216.143.61.---)
Date:   01-22-09 10:57

I have heard that this is the best restaurant on the island. I have been to a few of the other restaurants but not this one yet. I will be going to Culebra next month and have been planning to give it a try. I do have to say that Ann's post raised some concern but I have pretty much come to the same conclusion that Mort stated. I don't doubt the accuracy of Ann's story at all but this seems to be a one off occurrence. I feel that they deserve a change so I'm going for it. If I have a bad experience I will no doubt be reporting it on this board and encourage others to do the same. If the things Ann talks about are going on regularly those of us who care about culebra should not be defending the business or its proprietor.

Hopefully, I’ll have a great experience and will be able to enjoy others in the future.

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Re: Juanita Bananas - stay away!
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Michael (---.ny5030.east.verizon.net)
Date:   01-22-09 12:00

Usually reviews, good or bad, work in favor of the business. Either people are encouraged or get curious and want to see for themselves. That is, of course, until there is such a plethora of choices to eat at, that not everybody winds up in the same spots ;)

Does anybody have Javier's email address, so we can notify him and ask him for his side of the story?

Enjoy Culebra!

Michael

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Re: Juanita Bananas - stay away!
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: SunnyBabe (67.224.246.---)
Date:   01-22-09 13:33

"About an hour after" is too soon for food poisoning.
Usually several hours to more than a day. Most
likely from lunch or earlier. Could be soap!
If it's food, could be cross contamination from
utensils, so you can eat different dishes and
still possibly get it. Did you by chance eat at
the Chinese Rest,?
Real food poisoning is usually mild and very
rare. Juanta Banana's Chef is professionally
trained in food storage etc. The chance that it
is actually their fault is close to zero. Yet you
recklessly made this claim. I don't understand
the mentality of why a bad personal experience
is cause for public denouncement. Now a deceptive
practice, bait and switch, substandard accomodations,
etc. are understandable. But because you got
the runs! Please! How about a little more self respect
and less "get even".

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Re: Juanita Bananas - stay away!
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Elke Hobus (---.sunrisebanks.com)
Date:   01-22-09 14:03

Hi -

I'm new to this sight, but my fiance and I are travelling to the island in May so I am out here trying to do as much research as possible. I have to somewhat agree with SunnyBabe - I used to think that a person could get food poisening shortly after eating, but actual food poisening I believe is a bacterial infection and it takes hours on end in order for the bacteria to grow and thrive and then make you sick. Just some "food" for thought.

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Re: Juanita Bananas - stay away!
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Ann S. (---.nyc.res.rr.com)
Date:   01-22-09 17:22

First of all, you can get food poisoning as quickly as 30 minutes after eating tainted food. Secondly, when you only have 4 days on an island and one day is spent in bed, because you where in the bathroom all night, not with just the runs by the way, it does have an effect on your vacation. The only reason we went to tell Juanita's was because the locals told us we should, that they would want to know. The manager's reaction, as I have stated before was insulting.
We ate at another restaurant Susie's and had a delicious meal. We went in the kitchen and told Susie. I like communicating with managers and owners, so they know when they are doing a good job and when they are not.
I like these types of websites because they can help inform you about a place and then you can make up your own mind.

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Re: Juanita Bananas - stay away!
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Mark Reynolds (---.ptld.qwest.net)
Date:   01-22-09 17:53

I've lived over seas most of my life and have had bouts with these occurences and my doctors recommend when traveling into other lands always take 2 tablespoons of Pepto- Bismol in the morning as this protects the lining of your stomach and instestines from bacteria and viruses from food poisoning and although it won't entirely stop it ,it makes it go away faster and not as uncomfortable. just my 2 cents. I've lived in east Africa and the Mddle east, europe, mexico, etc.

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Re: Juanita Bananas - stay away!
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: SunnyBabe (67.224.246.---)
Date:   01-22-09 21:47

OK Ann you've gored the OX enough, we've suffered enough,
where is the relief from haranguing tourists. You made your point,
you insist it has to be this Rest. cause you didn't like their
reaction to you. Thats not evidence that they were your problem, it is
evidence that you selected the culprit as the 150.00 place cause you
resent spending so much money. How classless of you.

I come here every year for a month or more, have always had a great
meal at JB's, I think you've been very careless in your assertions and it
could be damaging to their business. But what do you care, the only
thing important to you is you had the runs and they didn't believe you.
So you felt it was your obligation to warn the world?
Get a life! Sh*t happens.

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Re: Juanita Bananas - stay away!
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Michael (---.nyc.res.rr.com)
Date:   01-22-09 22:41

Sunny Babe - no reason to get rude!

Enjoy Culebra!

Michael

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Re: Juanita Bananas - stay away!
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Zoë Vars (---.cable.mindspring.com)
Date:   01-23-09 08:20

That sounds like either way you had a terrible experience, though like so many here I just have a hard time with it. We eat at JB every time we come to the island and have had nothing but stellar experiences.

They did offer you a second meal so in fairness they tried to make amends. You chose not to accept the offer by your own story because you felt he was rude. Personally I would have taken the offer. It would be most unusual for a restaurant to offer you a refund, especially one that relies on tourists. You might be surprised by how many people would show up with stories like yours (though I'm sure yours is true) just to try and con a free meal. Food poisoning can take from 30 minutes to 48 hours to develop so there really is no way to tell what caused it.

I'm sorry your vacation was sullied by this experience but I'm not sure what else could have been done.

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Re: Juanita Bananas - Reviews
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Michael (---.nyc.res.rr.com)
Date:   01-23-09 08:55

Well, I think it brought out a lot of 'lurkers' who told us about their great experience at Juanita Bananas! Would still love to hear from Javier, but it seems everybody else seems to have had good experience with him!

Enjoy Culebra!

Michael

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Re: Juanita Bananas - Reviews
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Mort (---.tampabay.res.rr.com)
Date:   01-23-09 13:05

To all who think that Ann was just being informational to all of us on the board...

She posted the exact same thing "Juanita Bananas - Stay away!" on TripAdvisor.com.

Michael, I understand what you mean about "any publicity is good publicity". But an accusation of food poisoning". That's brutal publicity for a restaurant.

Clearly Ann is trying to damage their business, not just be "informational".

(Ann, I hope you don't have a business of your own. And if you do, I hope no one tries to destroy it based on one bad experience, especially one that is somewhat circumstantial.)

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Re: Juanita Bananas - Reviews
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Tracy Eichelberger (---.hfc.comcastbusiness.net)
Date:   01-23-09 13:23

we're arriving in Culebra a week from Saturday...and we are looking forward to dinner at Juanita Bananas and saying hello to Javier and Jennifer. We expect it to great, as it has been every one of the many times we have been there.

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Re: Juanita Bananas - Reviews
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Michael (---.nyc.res.rr.com)
Date:   01-23-09 13:43

To say something in Ann's defense: I think she was more upset about her dealings with Javier afterwards. Food poisoning, as we know, cannot be exactly pinpointed, timewise.

Ann, what would have been an outcome that would have prevented you from posting 'stay away'?

Enjoy Culebra!

Michael

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Re: Juanita Bananas - Reviews
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Ann S. (---.nyc.res.rr.com)
Date:   01-23-09 17:29

I posted on the Trip Advisor for the same reason I posted on this website...as I have stated above. It's just as informational on Trip Advisor as on this one and just like this website, people can decide for themselves what they want to do. I also posted my Tamarindo Estates' rave review on Trip Advisor.
If I owned my own business I would respect and welcome my customers and their opinions and treat them with the courtesy and caring they deserve.
If Javier had responded to my information in person with some respect or if Jennifer had simply responded to the email I sent her it would have been included and definitely influenced my review of their restaurant and my experience there.
I love Culebra and will be back; this was just an experience that affected my stay and I thought people should have this information and now can do what they will with it.

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Re: Juanita Bananas - Reviews
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Java (---.dynamic.centennialpr.net)
Date:   01-24-09 20:15

Hi All
They did not get sick because of our food.
Thanks for the support.

Mr Cabrera

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Re: Juanita Bananas - stay away!
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Ann S. (---.nyc.res.rr.com)
Date:   01-24-09 20:51

Can you prove that?

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See you in March!!
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: cynthia w (---.hsd1.tx.comcast.net)
Date:   01-25-09 21:37

No, he cannot prove it, but neither can you unless you have a sample of the food you ate and a sample of ... well, your "night." My family and I are making our 1st trip to Culebra and are looking forward to dining at JB's!

Viva Culebra!

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Re: Juanita Bananas - Reviews
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Frank (---.ghbo.hou.wayport.net)
Date:   01-26-09 09:50

I think the manner in which AnnS labeled her topic -- "Juanita Bananas-Stay Away" -- speaks for itself. She wasn't posting "information" to allow people to "decide for themselves". If that were the case, she would have labeled the posting: 'Juanita Bananas-Review" or something similar.

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Re: Juanita Bananas - Reviews
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Mort (---.tampabay.res.rr.com)
Date:   01-26-09 12:05

Frank, I think you hit the nail on the head. It's the vendetta-style approach that so many of us take issue with.

She has no evidence that other people wouldn't enjoy JB's in the future, nor that any other people have suffered a problem at JB's. Yet she feels justified in going out of her way to tell everyone to "stay away".

"Vengeance is mine" sayeth Ann.

But what goes around comes around. I bet that someday Ann might find herself painted with a very broad and vicious brush by someone who barely knows her but was somehow offended by her.

Karma can be a b*tch.

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Re: Juanita Bananas - Reviews
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: elsa (---.cable.mindspring.com)
Date:   01-26-09 12:40

I'm a travel writer, and I'm writing in my article that this is the best restaurant on the island, as good as anything I've had in New York. Pricy, but food's pricy on the island, and normal for folks coming from places like NYC. The space is beautiful, the wait staff was lovely, and I couldn't recommend it more. The reviewers experience seems an aberration to me.

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Re: Juanita Bananas - Reviews
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Ann S. (---.nyc.res.rr.com)
Date:   01-26-09 15:59

This is a public message board for both good and bad information and opinions. I have every right to put a good or a bad experience on this website. My mission was not to shut down Juanita's or to run Javier out of town...I doubt one bad review has the power to do either. But many of you seem to think this is a vendetta. It's called freedom of speech, the 1st Amendment. My review was titled "stay away" because that's how I feel, that's my opinion. I'm not going to apologize for being honest and sharing an experience on a website that is supposed to be informative and helpful for other travelers. Again, they can make up their own minds.
Shame on who? I don't wish bad on anyone, but I do wish to be openly and honestly informed about places I'm traveling.
It's too bad my glowing review of Tamarindo Estates didn't get so much attention...I'll repeat Tamarindo Estates was an incredible place to stay, you can read my review/opinion on this website as well.

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Re: Juanita Bananas - Reviews
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Mort (---.tampabay.res.rr.com)
Date:   01-26-09 21:03

You absolutely have the right to post what you want.

And we have the right to post what we want about you. Hey, it's just our opinions, just being open & honest, just how we feel. It's called freedom of speech, right?

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Re: Juanita Bananas - Reviews
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: richard (---.hsd1.dc.comcast.net)
Date:   01-27-09 04:24

Bigger picture: Elsa needs to be stopped before her glowing article comes out on the island - we'll all be priced out for our next visit.

who's the real enemy? </smirk>

(apologies to local small businesses that rely on a steady stream of dedicated customers especially now)

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Re: Juanita Bananas - Reviews
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Michael (---.ny5030.east.verizon.net)
Date:   01-27-09 10:58

Who's Elsa?

Enjoy Culebra!

Michael

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Re: Juanita Bananas - Reviews
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: alashas (---.dyn.embarqhsd.net)
Date:   01-27-09 16:37

HI Michael,

Elsa is the "travel writer" who told us 4 posts above yours that JB is the "best restaurant on the island."

(:>) alashas http://honeymoon2.smugmug.com/

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Re: Juanita Bananas - Reviews
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: David W. (---.lightspeed.hstntx.sbcglobal.net)
Date:   01-29-09 18:42

I'm new to this forum and will be going to Culebra for the first time this coming May. After reading the above I have to put in my 2 cents.

Food poisoning is extremely difficult to prove. There are many things in my experience which can cause the same symptoms, virus, staph, food allergy, too much booze, the list goes on. The cause could have been from something eaten or encountered up to 5 days before. Given that, to post a "warning" about the last place you ate without mentioning every other place you ate for the last few days is irresponsible.

I assume this forum has a moderator and I would encourage that person to remove posts such as these from the forum. Who knows how much business this restaurant may lose over this post and there is no justification for it.

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Re: Juanita Bananas - Reviews
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Mort (---.tampabay.res.rr.com)
Date:   01-30-09 08:08

David, your points are completely valid. But Michael has found that in threads like this, the business tends to get much more good publicity out of it than bad. He keeps an eye on how a thread is going and takes action only if truly needed. (He did change the title of the thread from "Juanita Bananas - Stay Away" to something more appropriate.)

And indeed it looks like Michael's strategy has worked: the original poster came off looking petty and vindictive, while everyone else rose to JB's defense. If anything, JB's will be better off for this.

The TripAdvisor review, unfortunately, is another story. David, I think that your use of the word "irresponsible" is very apt.

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Re: Juanita Bananas - Reviews
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Michael (---.ny5030.east.verizon.net)
Date:   01-30-09 08:35

David W. all I can say is WELCOME :) - we need voices like yours!

Enjoy Culebra!

Michael

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Re: Juanita Bananas - Reviews
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: alashas (---.dyn.embarqhsd.net)
Date:   01-30-09 09:47

Hi Michael,

Did you receive the photo I email you a couple of days ago?

Also, has anyone else developed a craving for bananas after reading this thread? We've been eating bananas all week at our house, and are happy to report that none of us have developed food poisoning this week.

8 of us did come down with food poisoning after eating at a 4* resort in the States a few years ago, and it hit us like clock work within 4 to 6 hours after we ate dinner in their restaurant.

Cheers, alashas

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Re: Juanita Bananas - Reviews
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Ann S. (---.nyc.res.rr.com)
Date:   01-30-09 10:55

Again, food poisoning can take as little as 30 minutes to cause symptoms. Again, I got sick after eating at Juanita Bananas and was treated really poorly when I went to the restaurant to inform them. That was my experience...maybe it was a one time thing, maybe Javier is always nice and respectful, just not on that day and not to me or my boyfriend. That all could be true....I don't know, I just know what happened to me.
Again, please read my glowing review of Tamarindo Estates it was an incredible place to stay on Culebra and I wish it was getting as much attention as this bad experience.

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Re: Juanita Bananas - Reviews
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Mort (---.tampabay.res.rr.com)
Date:   01-30-09 15:05

One great review does not balance a very destructive one. Not on our beloved Culebra, anyway.

Ann, you clearly don't get the point we're making. And you're just saying the same thing over and over again.

So, since you don't get it, and we don't get you, I'll just say this on behalf of many on the board: "Ann - Stay away!"

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Re: Juanita Bananas - Reviews
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: KathrynJ (---.tx.res.rr.com)
Date:   01-31-09 00:01

To Ann,

I do not know your experience personally and no one else on this board does either, so I am sorry that everyone is beating you up, I think it is a little unfair. I hope that in the future your trips to Culebra are nothing but the best!

To everyone else,

Crazy things can happen, and if they do you are sure to hear about them. So with that being said, I'm pretty sure that most people who experience something nasty on there trip would be vocal about it. There is no prof either way if JB's food was the cause of the sickness, and there is no prof if the owner was rude or not, so why can't everyone just drop it and move on. Who knows what happened and who cares, I'm pretty sure everyone has better things to do then fight over something this stupid! JB isn't going anywhere and clearly it has loyal customers and will continue to have people who love it and people who hate it!


Singing "why can't we be friends, why can't we be friends"?

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Re: Juanita Bananas - Reviews
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Ann S. (---.nyc.res.rr.com)
Date:   01-31-09 10:39

I agree with the "culebralover"....thanks for putting things into perspective!

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