La Lanterna by Franco Seccarelli

I have been here twice and I only rate it low because of the service, from the “hostess” who is supposed to be smiley and welcoming to staff! Our waiter was great but the food took for ever to come out. Now the food was good, the tuna was delicious, the burrata was also good but overall, for the fancy place they are, I expected much better. It’s very average.

Romantic Italian restaurant right off the street with an atmosphere like I stepped back to Italy. Located in old San Juan, everything was mouth watering good. Recommend making a reservation by calling as this location is very popular and rightfully so.

At La Lanterna, an Old San Juan Italian restaurant known for its authentic Italian cuisine, Eva—the rude hostess who takes reservations and answers the phone—is very rude. We ate there once, and she was extremely rude. We called another time to make a new reservation, and she hung up on my friend because Eva didn’t want to speak English. Overall, the food was pretty good, but the bad service from the hostess was so bad that it ruined the experience, with poor customer service and reservations issues. Other reviews mention similar issues with rude hostess Eva.

This restaurant is perfect for a romantic evening, it’s a beautiful place. The service was 10/10. Delicious Italian food and a wide selection of wines. Tip: when making a reservation, be sure to request seating on the patio. The hostess wasn’t very friendly, but the rest of the staff made the experience wonderful.

We happened upon this restaurant while visiting Old San Juan, and it was truly a delightful discovery. From the moment we arrived, we were impressed by the beauty of the space and the genuinely warm, attentive service. The gentle sound of a coquí in the background added a unique and charming touch to the overall experience. We began with the burrata and zucchini, both of which were exceptionally fresh and full of flavor. For our entrées, we selected the evening’s specials, and they were executed to perfection. To conclude the meal, we shared the soufflé, which was outstanding and a memorable finish. The only drawback was that the restaurant allows a relaxed dress code, baseball caps and small children, which detracted from the otherwise refined ambiance. That said, it did not take away from the quality of the food or service. We very much look forward to returning on our next visit to Old San Juan.

Spectacular meal. The pasta is so fresh. Great atmosphere and staff. We will definitely be coming back!

Came for dinner and sat in the indoor dining room because we wanted A/C, but there is also a lovely courtyard. Service was excellent. A fantastic team of waitstaff made sure we had everything we needed. Food was excellent. I had the lamb chops and they were probably the best ones I have ever eaten!

Our recent Monday night dinner at La Lanterna Restaurant was unfortunately a major disappointment. From the moment we were seated, the service felt unfriendly and inconsistent. We waited nearly 30 minutes just to receive our wine choices — a basic element of the dining experience that should set the tone for the evening. Instead, it foreshadowed the disappointment to come. Where to start? We chose the truffle pasta special, which we learned only once the bill was presented was priced at $90 —nearly double the cost of the pasta dishes listed on the menu. At that price point, expectations are understandably high. Sadly, the dish was bland and lacked the depth, richness, and aroma one expects from a properly executed truffle pasta. It was underwhelming and forgettable. Equally disappointing was the porcini mushroom pasta. What should have delivered earthy, robust flavor instead tasted flat and uninspired. The sauce lacked complexity, and the overall dish felt poorly executed and forgettable. To their credit, the staff did attempt to make it right by substituting a pasta Bolognese. Unfortunately, that dish also fell short. It lacked the slow-simmered richness, depth, and balance that define a properly executed Bolognese sauce. What can you say about an establishment that finds it acceptable to list additional bread on the menu as a $4 charge — a small detail, perhaps, but one that felt out of step with the hospitality typically associated with high-end dining. If this is meant to represent fine Italian cuisine, then both the chef and front-of-house staff could benefit from a refresher on what Italian hospitality and culinary standards truly embody: warmth, attentiveness, generosity, and bold, memorable flavors. Regrettably, La Lanterna did not live up to expectations. With so other many outstanding dining options to choose from, this is one restaurant I recommend skipping when you are in San Juan.