Luna Rossa, Ristorante Italiano - TR & Review

[Coccinelle]

I kinda feel bad because I haven't given props to this restaurant which we really loved. We actually ate there 2 nights in a row (last Mar/Apr) because it was so good and the service was so attentive & outstanding. It is located in a spot that you would probably miss if you are strolling up and down La Quinta as it is just around the corner from what I call the 'shark mercado' on 5th.

Luna Rossa is located on Constituyentes, between La Quinta and 1st Avenue.
Here are some pics of our dinner at this really nice restaurant. I hope that it is still there by the time we get back to Playa.



Cozy sidestreet table for 2...


The Menu...



The courtyard...


The food...
Bruschetta

Mixed salad (so yummy)

Lasagna bolognese

Ravioli stuffed with goat cheese and pecans

Spaghetti with olive oil, garlic and shrimp


The people...

[redhairgirl1]

Yum!! We will try to make it there! The prices don't look bad at all!

Thanks!

[MoonDollar]

Yep, just added that to my list too. I'm going to be so busy eating that I won't have time for anything else.

[Jillian]

Oh Yum!!!!! That looks so delicious!

[cpfstich]

Looks very good, thanks for sharing!

[Tony&Cheri]

You look so cute in those pictures, Louise!! We actually ate at Luna Rossa awhile back on your recommendation (I think it was Carlos's last night in town.) I don't want to be negative, but we had a bit of a different experience. We weren't too impressed with the place. The prices were reasonable, but the food we had was pretty mediocre. Maybe they were just having a bad night, who knows.

What really rubbed me the wrong way though is when we asked for the bill, the waiter (the guy in the picture) came and gave us a verbal total. Hmmmmm, not good. I don't like when they do that in a bar, and I've never seen it done in a restaurant. Anyway, I asked him for an itemized bill, and he came back with a receipt with all of the food items listed, but with no prices! At the bottom it just showed the same grand total he told us previously. Why bother with a receipt like that, since we already knew what we ate?! Also not good. How can you know if the total is correct if none of the prices are listed? Then we asked if the tip was included. He sorta hemmed and hawed and then admitted that 10% had been added to the total. The whole thing seemed pretty shady to me. And we had already explained that we all lived there, so we didn't expect to get the normal tourist treatment, but we did. He was a real smooth talker, that guy.

At that point we decided to just let it go & not push it further (one of us wanted to and one of us wanted to just leave ). So we paid our bill and left and decided not to return for that reason.

I'm usually willing to give a place a second or third try if things don't go so well (any place can have an off night), but when they pull stuff like that--especially when it's the guy who appears to be in charge that does it--I'm not inclined to return.

So, if you do go, I'd suggest asking for an itemized receipt if they don't give you one and check it carefully.

~Cheri

[Coccinelle]

Hmmm, really? You are right, that is not good at all. I would have been really upset too. Obviously, we did not have the same experience. The guy in charge, I think his name is RJ or something like that, is a charmer and smooth talker for sure. We had no problem with the bill like you guys did. It certainly shouldn't have happened to you guys since you are locals. Was he aware that you own one of the cutest, most popular boutique hotels in Playa? Wow...that sucks big time.

Funny, we had the same experience at Jaguar restaurant during our recent trip will all of our friends. Most of our group had already paid or were paying their bill when the waiter gave us ours. I always look at the bills because Bry has difficulty reading them sometimes, plus I also like to see if there is a 'hidden charge'. I know how you felt because it really upset me too and I wanted to talk to the waiter about it but Bry took the bill from my hands and paid it anyway. There were no prices included next to all the food items, just a grand total at the bottom. I could kick myself for not speaking up like I wanted to. Everytime we walked by Jaguar after that I wanted to stop in but Bry would just pull me away.

It not a nice feeling to be had.

[Kricket]

Originally Posted by redhairgirl1

Yum!! We will try to make it there! The prices don't look bad at all!

Thanks!

I agree, Jenny!
Are you keeping a list?