La Cucina di Ivo — Restaurant in San Juan

First things first. This was reservation only for the night we came so do call ahead.

I do not believe there are words in the English language to describe what a delightfully perfect meal this was. Who knew there was a tiny slice of Italy in Puerto Rico. The service was impeccable, waters and beverages refilled once they were just below half full. Prompt but not rushed service. The restaurant was clean and well decorated with light and beautiful music. Ambiance was truly unmatched.

The most important part: the food was delicious. I think I need a thesaurus for the word "perfect" because that was truly this dining experience. We got the mussels, the caprese, and the fried ravioli to start which were all fantastic. The bread was warm and soft on the inside and crispy and crunchy on the outside. The balsamic dip was the best balsamic I've had. We even dipped our bread in the sauces that were with the other appetizers. Especially the pink truffle sauce with the ravioli. The appetizers were so good I got excited for dinner.

Dinner was even better, somehow. I got the gnocchi and added shrimp to it and it was mind blowing. It was so soft and pillowy and the white sauce was literal perfection. Everyone else got the risotto both the mare and the saffron which again were simply perfect. The slight aldente of the rice with the creaminess of the sauce. And the shrimp, it was almost buttery. It was so so tender.

Dessert was fabulous. I've never had anything like the brownie ice cream ball and it was so good. The tiramisu was the best we've ever had.

All in all it was simply better than a 5 star experience. This is a restaurant I would fly to yearly to enjoy all of the remarkable...

I do not believe words can adequately describe the experience here. Frankly, I didn't know my taste buds could DO that. This chef is supremely talented, this is bar none the best cuisine ("food" is too undescribing a word) I've had in my life. Not to mention the service, which is world-class. The ambiance is fitting and the music sets a classy mood. The second you walk in, you know the food is going to be amazing because of how luring the air smells. The meat was succulent and tender, the sauce rich, creamy, and wonderfully savory. The slight hint of flavor from the grill delicately balances the vegetables. Not to mention the bread, which alone sets a sublime mood for a jubilant evening. Five stars being the limit feels almost insulting. This food is, without hyperbole, deserving of more than the maximum rating I can leave here. Every dish at the table was impactful, each taking you on a flavor journey of its own. This review may sound like an exaggeration, but I am so moved by the food here that I have to border on poetry to approximate describing it. If you come to Old San Juan and do not treat yourself to this, I can only conclude that you're insane. Please try this, you will leave a changed human, and certainly a full and happy one. 100/10, will come back here every year I'm blessed to...

My husband and I came here during our tour around Old San Juan. Me being pregnant I was craving carbs and pasta came to mind. It ended up being a busy night not long after we sat, and with only 2 ladies who were working, they did an excellent job. They were very attentive whenever they had a free moment (we are familiar with the restaurant business so we understand that things cant get done right away in a timely manner) and again, there were only 2 of them working but they were amazing. Our pasta came out absolutely delicious, and it stayed hot until our belly's were full. We definitely reccomend this place to anyone craving Italian. Though the menu options are limited, I feel as though there is something for everyone to enjoy. Great job tonight ladies. You did an incredible job staying cool, calm and collective considering how busy it got. Thank you for giving our last night in Puerto Rico a dinner we will...