Posted by If you’re looking for casual fine dining in San Juan del Sur G & G Gourmet is the place for you!
Since G & G Gourmet opened a couple of months ago Gordon and I have been anxious to see what this “closed door” restaurant was all about.
Closed door literally translates to just that — during dinner service at G & G the door is closed — walk-ins are not accepted. One day advance notice is required to make a reservation. The menu of 5 courses is set and changes each month.
With my parents in town visiting we had our excuse to go out for a special dinner.
Host, and co-owner Gaby greeted us at the door with a warm genuine smile and escorted us to our table.
A few minutes after we were seated Gaby returned with a delightfully refreshing welcome drink of tangerine juice, fresh mint and soda.
The aroma that wafted from the open kitchen awakened our senses and reminded us how hungry we were.
As we contemplated our wine selections for the evening Gaby approached our table with a surprise course.
The perfectly cooked jumbo shrimp on mashed potatoes drizzled with passionfruit got two thumbs up all around. The tartness of the passion fruit provided a welcome balance to this ultra rich buttery dish.
With the appetizer being beef carpaccio, a food I’m not totally comfortable with, naturally I hesitated. But with just a little coaxing from Gordon I dug in and surprisingly it ended up being my favorite course.
The sour of the lemon and capers contrasted perfectly with the sharp parmesan and bitter arugula. The rich tender beef drizzled with olive oil was the consummate counterpoint to the crunchy toast.
My dad is an avid fisherman and understands the care required to cook a delicate white fish, so our next course of leaf fish accompanied with broccoli puree was a stand out for him. Steamed just past opacity this fresh caught white fish was super moist; prepared to perfection.
After a brief pause and a palate cleanser of lime mint sorbet we moved onto the main course of tenderloin and risotto. The steak was tender and juicy, the risotto rich and creamy.
My Mom has a major sweet tooth. In fact she’s been known to pick what she’s going to have for dessert before choosing an entree. Had I captured a photo that showed the look on her face as she lifted her spoon to her lips and tasted the first bite of dessert a description of our final course would hardly be necessary.
Fresh out of the oven chocolate lava cake paired with vanilla ice cream and a compote of berries was the perfect finish to our meal. And although I was nearing my limit for food intake there was absolutely no way I was going to let a single bite of this heavenly dessert go to waste.
I won’t lie. At a price of $25 USD per person for dinner in San Juan del Sur walking in the door we had high expectations. G & G Gourmet surpassed our lofty presumptions.
The speed at which the five courses were served was perfectly paced. Each dish was beautifully and modernly presented.
In addition to the wonderful food — the lighting, simple decor and instrumental background music — combined with Gaby’s attentive, professional, warm and friendly service made for very a comfortable, relaxed and enjoyable dining experience.
G & G Gourmet is a welcome addition to the San Juan del Sur restaurant scene. We can’t wait to see what delicious dishes Gaby and Gaby will be serving next month!
RESTAURANT DETAILS
G & G Gourmet
25 meters South of the central market
San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua
(505) 7789 – 7460
http://www.ggsanjuan.com
Open Tuesday to Sunday from 6:30 – 10 pm. Reservations are recommended during high season. Don’t miss All You Can Eat Pasta Night every Thursday.
DISCLAIMER: This is not a sponsored post. Gordon and I did not receive compensation in exchange for this review.
I was looking for this restaurant as I had heard of it before I came down…..unfortunately I was unable to find it…..next year!
From Gaby’s cordial greeting at the door to “would you like a coffee” at the end of our meal I would give G&G Gourmet Causal Fine Dining a ten out of ten. A great addition to the dining options in San Juan Del Sur.