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Great Experiences Motivates Us

Posted on July 28, 2019 · Posted in Dining and Wellness, Manuel Antonio

We received an email from one of our guests who stayed with us on June 2019, he wanted to share his experience at our La Luna Restaurant in depth and we got to say that we are thrilled with such wonderful comments. We were so glad at the moment that we shared it with all our staff as great experiences motivate us to keep offering the best possible service for our clients. Now we want to share this marvelous review in our blog:

“Approaching Michelin Star Level Of Greatness – La Luna Restaurant by GAIA

I would rate La Luna Restaurant at the GAIA Hotel and Reserve as excellent based on the food, as well as the service and location for the prices paid. I was a guest at the hotel for three days and decided to take all of my meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) at the restaurant because it was so superb. At no point was I disappointed and always extremely satisfied.

The menu (fresh, all organic with vegan options) was extensive for a small restaurant and yet, each dish I tried was well-prepared and comparable to what you would find at superior restaurants anywhere in the world. The bountiful breakfasts were table-served and offered a variety of customized choices. The chef has created dishes that offer a combination of Costa Rican and international cuisines. I was surprised and delighted to find this level of cooking at a hotel restaurant. As is the case with the hotel, the restaurant offered numerous thoughtful touches including four different homemade breads and an amuse-bouche between courses.

All of the dishes were custom prepared, well presented and offered a pleasing combination of flavors and color. Specific favorite appetizers included the sweet roasted squash and papaya soup, chilled cucumber soup, and the apple salad with spinach and blackberry vinaigrette. Entrees included fresh grilled fish and the Costa Rica Casserole which was complex and expertly spiced. The Traditional Costa Rica Sandwich with fried egg was a lunch favorite.

The service was attentive and friendly and I particularly appreciated the service offered by Marco who had a great sense of humor. All of the waiters were conversant in English.

The restaurant setting, perched at the top of a crest overlooking the ocean, was spectacular. Parking was at the bottom of the hill and you were chauffeured in style to the top in a golf cart. Before dinner, I enjoyed a before dinner drink in the lounge, ensconced in a comfortable chair, sipping a well-prepared mojito ($6), having delicious tapas (particularly the tuna medallions) and watching the ever-changing colors of the sunset over the Pacific. Dinner was served in an adjacent area of the large, covered, open-air room with the same magnificent views. While the room was not air conditioned, it had adequate overhead fans and ocean breezes.

In my opinion, La Luna’s cuisine would fare well if rated by the Guide Michelin (perhaps a Bib Gourmand rating), certainly for the price paid. Much like the hotel itself, the owner Boris Marchegiani, has created an outstanding restaurant which I would highly recommend.” – Daniel Gorrell