La Fonda Gourmet — Restaurant in Puerto Rico

This place looked wonderful and was a block away from where we were staying. After waiting 45 min in line, we we seated under an AC unit blasting cold on an otherwise beautiful night. We waited about 20 min to order. We explained a severe gluten allergy to the waiter who did not appear to know what gluten was. We asked about a few uncomplicated dishes and how they were made. He explained how the dishes were made and seemed to understand what we needed. We then waited 90 min after ordering with no updates from waiter, except when he stopped by to tell us rice and beans were no longer available, which was 2/3 of our meal. At this point staying in the restaurant was just miserable. An incredibly nice woman who had seated us came by the table and we asked if she could check on our food. She came back quickly and said the ticket for our order was apparently lost, something our waiter seemed not to notice. Then a minute later our food magically appeared, but with fried plantains on the plate of the person with the severe gluten allergy. Food fried in the same oil as gluten is highly cross contaminated and would have resulted in a trip to the ER if ingested. We immediately notified the waiter who said, without apology, the plantains were substituted for the rice and beans. I tried to explain to him the seriousness of food allergies but he just made excuses. I said I was just telling him for future reference, so he didn’t poison the next person. At that point the table of 4 next to us, which had a member with a food allergy, immediately got up and left. We notified the nice woman who seated us and she was rightly outraged that we had been served the very allergen we had made clear to the waiter would poison us. She immediately said the meal would be comp’d and changed the bill. She apologized and acknowledged that never should have happened. She is the best thing about this restaurant. I wish I got her name. She should be running the place. I believe the reviews that say the food here can be great. On this night it wasn’t though. A restaurant’s first responsibility, before providing value and good flavor, is to not poison you. If they fail that, nothing else matters. Again, thanks to the host...

If you’re even thinking about eating at La Fonda Gourmet — stop thinking and just GO! Seriously, we ate at a bunch of places during our trip to Puerto Rico and this was hands down the best experience we had, not just for the food (which was incredible) but for the whole vibe, the hospitality, everything.

Our server Jeni (or Jenny — sorry if I’m spelling it wrong!) was truly phenomenal. She took so much time to walk us through the menu since my family doesn’t speak Spanish, gave us thoughtful recommendations, and just made us feel so welcomed. Honestly, it felt like she was an old family friend. She even took a bunch of pictures for us with these adorable props — and for the record, my mom hates taking photos, but somehow Jeni made it happen and now we have a full family picture for the first time in forever. ❤️

As for the food... wow. I got the shrimp tacos and they were out of this world. Super flavorful, and I loved the addition of plantains — every bite was perfection. Even the Spanish-style rice on the side? I could eat that every single day and never get tired of it. My family went nuts for the cheese balls, and my dad is still talking about how massive and delicious his stuffed avocado (aguacate) was. Oh, and the pork bites? Delectable. Melt-in-your-mouth goodness.

Funny enough, even before we walked in, random people on the street were hyping the place up to us — telling us we made the right choice.

The only thing I regret is finding this gem towards the end of our trip. I would’ve come here every day if I could’ve. Next time we’re in town, this will be the FIRST stop. Can’t recommend La Fonda...

Restaurant Review: La Fonda Gourmet, Luquillo, Puerto Rico

My recent visit to La Fonda Gourmet in Luquillo, Puerto Rico, was a mixed experience. Traveling with two kids, we hoped for a memorable dining outing, and while some aspects were enjoyable, others fell short.

Food (4/5): The food was good but not exceptional. The highlight of the meal was the octopus-stuffed avocado, which was flavorful and well-prepared. However, the overall culinary experience lacked the wow factor I expected. The rum Old Fashioned was decent but didn’t quite meet the mark in terms of flavor and presentation.

Service (3/5): Service was one of the weaker points of the visit. Despite the restaurant being relatively empty, with only three tables occupied, the staff was not particularly attentive. Orders were slow to arrive, and there was a sense of reluctance in the service. While the team was polite, they didn’t go out of their way to enhance the dining experience.

Ambiance (2/5): The environment left a lot to be desired. The decor felt dated, and the space was cramped, making it less comfortable than expected. The bathroom situation was particularly off-putting, with soft drinks stored there and no hand-drying options available—a significant oversight.

Overall Experience: La Fonda Gourmet delivers a decent meal, but the overall experience needs improvement to match its potential. With more attentive service and upgrades to the ambiance, it could become a standout dining destination in Luquillo. For now, I’d describe it as an “okay” experience worth trying but not rushing back...