Da Luigi

Let me start by saying I’m from NYC/​Long Island. I take my Italian food seriously. Luigi was a chef in Italy. While on vacation in San Juan he met a local woman, fell in love, and moved to San Juan. Each dish he serves at Da Luigi is made with that love. His pesto sauce is a once in a lifetime experience. His seafood, meats, pastas are all delicious and fresh. If you put this restaurant in NY you wouldn’t be able to get a table. So make this quaint delicious restaurant a MUST on ur next visit. You will come back again and again.

Stumbled across this gem while on vacation. Celebrated my birthday here and it was the best meal I had in Puerto Rico. There was also a large party but Luigi did not miss a beat. The food came out hot and delicious just as if I were in Italy. Great presentation. My wine glass was always full. Far exceeded all expectations.

Wow
What a lovely, cozy little place.
The food is a great original direct from Geneva Italia
The appetizer up to know have been totally awesome, the cappresse was just like the picture and taste better than the look. The albondigas had such a rich and tasty sauce.
If you find yourself near and want a little Italian taste you should be here.

I’ve been waiting to go here for the past 3 years bc of how amazing but expensive it was. Wow were they wrong. Everything was so slow. I had to go to the bar multiple for drinks and for our check as well. Came here with my girlfriend for Valentine’s Day. So thankful she is amazing and we just laughed off everything from entering to exiting. Spent about an hour and a half there waiting, there were no meatballs and we each received 1 beer. Plenty of other Italian places to choose from.

Authentic small family run artisan Italian restaurant in a quintessential San Juan setting. The neighborhood looks rough but is safe and full of hidden gems if you take the time to look. I’ve been twice now and thoroughly enjoyed all the dishes.

This is by far the best Italian food we have ever experienced.
My husband lived in NYC for 10 years, so when he moved to Seattle he would always complain of the Italian food. I’ve never had real Italian, he’d always tell me. Well, this is it. Da Luigi is as authentic as it can get. He said it blows the NYC Italian restaurants out of the water.
This is our 3^rd time coming here. We went twice on our honeymoon in August 2012 — yes, it was that great. Our third visit was yesterday. We arrived and were quickly seated. We were given warm bread dipped in olive oil — simple, but delicious. We ordered carpaccio carne for an appetizer. The flavors were so wonderful — It had carpaccio, parmesan cheese, and a green sauce of some sort. Bread was placed on top for dipping into the mixture.
For our main course I had chicken alfredo, and my husband had osso buco. The chicken alfredo was to die for! So much flavor, I couldn’t believe it. Every time I order chicken alfredo *anywhere else* it is bland and tasteless. This was quite the opposite. My husband’s osso buco was amazing as well. The veal fell off the bone, and the risotto it came with had so much flavor.
I never write reviews, but I felt I had to speak up about this place. It deserves to be packed! Yes, it is in a neighborhood with «car parts strewn along the street,» but don’t let that deter you. Inside it is clean, rustic, and authentic. The food is on the expensive side ($ 16 for pasta), but it is well worth it. I’d rather pay a higher price for a delicious meal than some mediocre (and overpriced) hotel restaurant meal. That is all!

Great meal if you have an unlimited spending amount and you don’t mind sitting in «eau de slum». Sorry, I can’t agree that a plate of spaghetti with tomato sauce and no cheese should cost $ 12.95. He doesn’t give any vegetables with the meal either. Is he kidding? Go to any of the big hotels in the area. You will pay the same price, but you will get a view, ambiance, and good service. This place is cheap and dirty. Across the street there are car parts strewn along the street, graffiti all over the buildings, and stray cats everywhere. DIRTY.

The chef/​owner/​waiter is one charming dude, I’ll tell you what. He’s an Italian in Puerto Rico since 1986 and the restaurant has been open since at least 2000. His personality and hospitality alone is worth five stars.
You need to be buzzed in to the restaurant and sometimes the system is a little busted so you may need to call with your phone (the number is on the door). If you don’t have a functioning phone you could also probably just knock loudly on the door as Luigi is usually around and about.
I personally love the location and the neighborhood but some may not take to it. There is no glitz and glam, no tourist sterility. It’s also located across the street from a large abandoned building and right off of Calle Loiza. It’s a little difficult to find front door parking so just park a block down in the neighborhood.
The interior is a little bare-​bones and hard-​edged. I found myself wanting something soft and warm in the décor. But where that was lacking, the food picked up.
Definitely warm and comforting: House-​made pasta, desserts, and sauces. Awesome wine pairings (there are two red and two white varieties). The caprese was tasty — amazing pesto, fresh mozzarella, flavorful tomatoes. The grouper was served in a delicious sweet salsa-​like sauce with mango and tomato. The only thing was that the fish was a little watery — I like to have a little color on my fish, a little caramelization or sear or just a touch of dry heat.
My favorite meal by far was ravioli stuffed with mushrooms in a white sauce. The pasta dough was SO silky and tender and amazing. The mushroom stuffing was earthy but smooth and packed so much flavor. I recommend this dish whole-​heartedly.
To finish off the meal we tried the tiramisu and apple tart. Not wow’ing but satisfying and down right good.
The ravioli, wine, and Luigi’s company will have me come back for more. A truly pleasant dining experience.

Had dinner with wife and in-​laws at Da Luigi last night. I was told the food and wine were good, so my expectations were set. Upon arrival, we were the only patrons in the restaurant. Could it be because it was Ashe Wednesday? Perhaps. We were promptly seated by Luigi himself and fresh, warm, crunchy bread was placed before us. Then our drink orders were taken, so we chose a bottle of red wine, which was smooth and tasty.
I ordered Pechuga de Pollo con Marsala (Chicken Marsala), the wife ordered La Putenesca, and both in-​laws ordered veal knee. We also ordered the anti-​pasto appetizer, which was by far the best I’ve ever had. The tomato with mozzarella cheese was impeccable! Finally, our dinners arrived and they looked wonderful, again, delivered by Luigi himself. I was then told that he owned the restaurant and he is also the chef. How cool!
My Chicken Marsala did not have the same flavor as what you’ll get at chain restaurants in the states. Nope! You’re getting an authentic meal from an authentic Italian chef. The texture and flavore were amazing. The mushrooms were delicious. The marsala sauce was sort of white and tasted really good. The chicken was pounded flat like schnitzel. The side of pasta was also declicious. I recommend this dish!
I tasted the meat from the in-​laws’ veal knee and it tasted like pot roast, so you know I loved it. We polished off the first bottle of wine, ordered another, and talked over it. It was a good night in beautiful San Juan.
If you’re in San Juan and are in the mood for an authentic Italian meal, do go here.
Recommend!