Puerto Plata has a straightforward dining scene: good fresh seafood, solid Dominican home cooking, and a handful of tourist-oriented restaurants along the Malecón. The best local food is found away from the waterfront — the neighbourhoods behind the central park have small comedores serving rice, beans, chicken, and fish at prices that have nothing to do with the resort economy.
For seafood, proximity to the port means the catch is genuinely fresh. Mahi-mahi, red snapper, and shrimp are common on menus; lambi (conch) appears in various preparations and is worth ordering if you haven't tried it. The local beer is Presidente, always served cold.