Blu Guayaba Restaurant and Lounge

Had a very hard time understanding the menu. We ordered the Mac and Mascarpone cremoso cheese. But we got elbow macaroni with Velveeta cheese. You can skip this place.

Great food and service. I highly recommend the mahi mahi.

Meh. Truly hit or miss. Good: risotto, scallops, salmon, prices, portion size. Bad: calamari (rubbery), mac and cheese (kraft), service (super slow). I guess there was a reason the place was empty.

Did the chef change? Not sure where the 4-​star reviews are coming from.
A recent dinner there (April 1) was just plain bad. While the fried calamari and salad starters we shared were fine, and the risotto was very tasty — and a large portion — the scallops appeared covered in either burned oil or butter, which imparted an overwhelming ashy taste that rendered them completely inedible. What a sad waste of 5 beautiful scallops. My friend’s halibut fillet was also irrevocably overcooked. What a sad waste of a nice piece of fish.
What’s funny is that these are two of the dishes that were heavily pushed by the proprietor when we sat down; they were also among the most expensive.
The dessert, offered to us on the house, was guava cheesecake. I do love cheesecake, but not this version, and I didn’t care for the saccharine-​sweet blueberry syrup that it had been doused with.

My mom and I came here for dinner on my first night in Puerto Rico. The best thing about this place is definitely the atmosphere — we sat outside on the patio and it was sooo nice. One of the things I dislike the most about living in California is that we never get to enjoy warm summer nights, and so it was really nice to sit outside in 75 degree weather and enjoy dinner. The food was only alright, however. My mom had a grouper that she liked pretty well, but my mahi mahi was a touch overcooked and wasn’t almond enrusted as promised (it was just served with sliced almonds on top, which were coated in a syrupy sweet sauce that was really gross). We also had a side of «pilaf, mashed plantain and nuts» but I couldn’t taste the plantain at all. It tasted like rice, which was fine, but not what I was hoping for. Prices were very reasonable, considering the location (both entrees were less than $ 20). Service was incredibly slooooooooooow, and even though we weren’t in a rush it got a little frustrating waiting for so long.

Horrible restaurant! I have never posted on Unilocal before and felt like I had to because I was truly mislead by the other posts.
Let’s just put aside the fact that we had to wait at least 20 min to get a server and when he finally came and my husband asked to order a Blu Colada the waiters response was sorry I don’t have time to make it because we have no bartender. Next, we placed our order… I ordered their famous risotto appetizer — which has peas. It came with no peas besides being very bland. And it took 45 min to get the appetizer — I was too hungry to wait to have it replaced. So, I then waited for my next course which was a salad which was suppose to come with tomatoes (mine came with none), English seedless cucumbers (mine came with seeds), grilled pineapple (no pineapple) — are you getting the point! And it took 30 min to get a salad… Absolutely ridiculous! And when I mentioned it to the waiter he said that there is only 2 waiters and 3 cooks quit. Is this my problem! You have a menu for a reason… I can tolerate Caribbean slow service but please stick to the menu. And stop with the excuses. Even the table next to ours had the same issue. They ordered almond crusted fish. No almond crust… Etc. We left to hear what else they mix

3+ stars.
What a treat! This trendy little restaurant is open for all three meals, with American-​style breakfasts, sandwich/​wrap lunches, and more «high-​end» evening meals with an emphasis on seafood and steaks, plus a nice bar.
For dinner, the house favorites are the seafood casserole and the scallops & risotto, but the best may be the seafood skillet — a sampler of flame-​grilled seafood (½ lobster tail, scallops, shrimp, mussels, clams and mahi-​mahi) over a delicious sauce. Try a glass of the unusual but delicious blue sangria (tropical fruits and liquors = blue) and the chorizo appetizer while you watch the cooks work over the open fire behind the windowed kitchen. Friendly service (though sometimes slow) completes the experience.
Most breakfasts are $ 4, though the breakfast specialty — cinnamon-​Kahlua french toast (made with restaurant-​baked water bread) topped with grilled ham and cheese — is $ 7 and is not to be missed. Lunches are $ 8 and include paired sides and drinks. Dinner entrees range in price from $ 16 to $ 24 — quite a bargain, given the quality and the restaurant’s location amidst the high-​end Carolina resorts.

The building exterior is deceiving — inside was nicer than expected.
Having sampled a few dishes during my visit, I give the risotto and chorizo a 5, the scallops a 4 (not rubbery!), and the mac & cheese was a disappointing 2.
I’m no stranger to the concept of «island time», but paint would have dried faster than our food came out. Multiple requests for water refills were noted and subsequently ignored by the waitstaff. In light of this, I give the overall experience 3 stars. Order ahead to go if possible and you will come out ahead.

We didn’t think much of this place from the street other than that it had recently opened, but we followed through on a friend’s tip. The friend advised that the risotto was a must.
My wife & I not only loved the risotto but thought the Mojitos were better (& much cheaper, $ 7.50) than the El San Juan’s ($ 12.50). You know they are authentic when you wonder why they take so long to make. The seafood platter was outstanding. I’ll be back next year.

My mom and I were terribly hungry and walking along and happened to spot this place. We were so hungry that it was really a no-​brainer. Honestly, I love to eat good food. I’m no chef, but when I eat something I can generally imagine what might have inspired it, or where the chef wanted to take you with the dish. I ordered the duck breast with mandarin skin chips and citrus marmalade. I ate. It took me places. The combination of flavors surprised me in such a good way. It was unexpected, but still thoughtful and well-​balanced. If nothing else, get the blu ice cream. Service was good too.

Best value in Isla Verde! Not cheap but very fairly priced for its ecclectic menu. If you’re staying in Hampton/​Ritz Carlton/​ESJ/​El San Juan/​Intercon hotels, it’s a fantastic place for dinner or drinks.
The kitchen is open til midnight. Average plate price is around $ 22. Appetizers are $ 6 for the ‘single’ portion that easily feeds 2. The sides are served with entrees are quite large and additional sides are $ 2-​$ 3. All wine (really?) is priced at $ 5, as far as I can tell and is fantastic.
We went several times and had the langoustines, lobster thermidor, the scallop w/​risotto, and a local dish of fish steamed with herbs and peppers in addition to several sides/​appetizers including the veal meatballs. Our comapanions enjoyed their steak & whole fried red snapper. The red snapper (fried whole with head/​eyes!) was a big hit with several people.
I think the restaurant is new and still working out kinks in its menu. The risotto served with the scallop dish needed salt (there was none on the table) & the scallops were very slightly over cooked. I loved the lobster thermidor but the sauce was scant. The «balls of fire» veal meatballs weren’t at all spicy as I expected but were akin to a swedish meatball.

This was such a lucky find. My husband I were looking for a place to eat and happened to drive past and notice this new restaurant (they had only opened a few days prior). I come to PR every year to visit family and this is hands down the best meal I have eaten on the island. The service was impeccable, everyone on the staff was welcoming and attentive. The food was superb. I got the scallops and risotto and both were cooked to perfection. My husband ordered the NY strip and claimed it was just as good as the one he had eaten the night before at one of the finer restaurants in the Washington DC area. Nice atmosphere and a pleasant band helped set the mood. This place is a MUST!