Trattoria il Buongustaio — Restaurant in Guaynabo

A Hidden Gem in Guaynabo – An Unforgettable Italian Dining Experience

Tucked away in Guaynabo is one of the best Italian restaurants I’ve ever had the pleasure of visiting—a true hidden gem. From the moment we walked in, we were greeted with a warm and welcoming ambience that set the tone for an extraordinary evening.

We were seated with Efraín, a seasoned waiter whose knowledge and hospitality elevated our entire experience. He walked us through the menu with genuine care, offering thoughtful recommendations and pairing suggestions that truly made a difference.

We began our meal with all three appetizers of the day, and each one was a standout. The arancini were perfectly crisp on the outside and tender inside, the salted cod croquettes were creamy and bursting with flavor, and the homemade meatballs were rich, savory, and comforting.

For our main courses, we ordered five different dishes—each more delicious than the last. The quality and flavor of every plate were simply outstanding. We ended the meal with a trio of desserts, and all three delivered. The guava panetela with ice cream was absolutely unforgettable—one of the best desserts I’ve had in a long time. The manchego flan was unique and enjoyable, and the ice cream with almonds and toasted crust provided a perfect finish.

We also shared two bottles of an excellent wine that paired beautifully with our meal. The atmosphere, the flavors, and above all, Efraín’s exceptional service made this dinner one of the most memorable meals of my trip back home.

As we were wrapping up, we asked Efraín how long he had been with the restaurant—turns out, he’s been there for 16 years. It shows. His familiarity with the menu, his passion for the cuisine, and his genuine warmth made all the difference.

If you’re ever in Guaynabo, do yourself a favor and make a reservation. This place is a...

This was a pretty good place, comparing other Italian restaurants. This one in particular was interesting since it had the "up scale" feeling but when we inquire if they make their own pasta, the server aid that they DON'T because is not easy and people won't appreciate it. I have to agree with the latter since the average people won't. I do think that in this restaurant's benefit that making your own pasta (which is not hard at all, I happen to make my own) will complement the "up scale" argument. On my visit they said that they only do Gnocchi in-house but they did not had it. Due to this, I was not interested in the pasta and we ordered Risotto. It was actually really good.

As an appetizer we ordered the grill salsiccia which it was amazing. Probably the best one I've had. We also did Spanish Tempranillo bottle to accompany the meal. They offered complimentary focaccia bread which they claim they make. It was really good. It was weird that they brought butter and not olive oil in the plate (which we ordered and they brought).

Anyhow, I will recommend the place and highly encourage the management to consider making their own pasta (it's easy), maybe a limited batch and stated like that. I think it will make a...

I dined here on a Wednesday evening. We were greeted and seated promptly.

They offer a great varied menu of typical Italian dishes and also special dishes.

I had a Sangria, refreshing and well prepared.

That evening they offered Pumpkin Ravioli with Prosciutto; what a great dish!, well balanced flavor between the sweetness of the pumpkin and the salt of the ham. It was one of the best ravioli I ever had.

Service was cordial and professional.

I will definitely patronize this...