www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Here's a mini-review of some of the places I ate this past week.

Soda Peru - ate there 3 times this week - EXCELLENT - the place is not elegant or anything but has good food, reasonable prices, and courteous service. My fave here is the Corvina in Tartar (Sea Bass in Tartar Sauce). Typical meal (lunch) costs about $7-8/person. Location: about 200 feet up the block from Zona Blue on the opposite side of the street (yellow building).

Esquina de Buenos Aires - EXCELLENT - a fancier restaurant - mostly gringo and wealthier Tico diners - one of my fave places to eat in CR. Fave dish is Lomito Porcini (Tenderloin in Mushroom Sauce). Typical dinner will run about $20-25/person. Location: about a block and a half (north?) of Bar Idem.

JR's Ribs - VERY GOOD - my first time in this place. Excellent ribs. 12pm-3pm weekday lunch special. It just happened we got there at 1pm, so I ordered the lunch special $5 with 1 side dish, $6 w 2 sides, $7 with 3 sides. Location: directly adjacent to the Zoo entrance, on the back side of Amon Plaza hotel in Barrio Amon.

Nuestra Tierra - first time there - OK, BUT PROBABLY WON'T REPEAT. The decor is pretty nice, and service is good, but the food is suspect. I ordered a 1/2 chicken (roasted). It was heated in a microwave and cold inside. I told the waiter and could see as they placed it back in the microwave and overheated it. Location: Don't remember, sorry, too many beers that night. Dinner was about $10/person.

Happy Snapper (Flamingo/Brasilito) - EXCELLENT - seafood restaurant in Flamingo area. I love this place when I'm there. Reasonable prices $15/person for lunch.

Nice summary Orange, Is the Happy Snapper a little local beachside seafood restaurant in Brasilito. I remember a really good place there on the beach there on my first trips to CR near 10 years ago as I ate there several times.rbc100

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In Search of Fine Kittens,
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Orange,

I concur with your assessment of the restaurants. I've been to all of them except Happy Snapper.

Zebra

Yep, it's a cool looking hut directly across the street from the beach in Brasilito. I learned that it was recently moved to a new location, but it's still in the same general area. The owners are 2 Americans. One was around when we were there, making sure everybody was enjoying their meal and time there, similar to what Bill at Sportsmans does. These guys are successful because they know customer service.

RBC,
The Happy Snapper was, in fact, directly on the beach in Brasilito, up until June, 2005. Last year, the government decided to flex their muscles, and enforce the 50 meter "Maritime Zone". They came in and leveled the place, with only one week's notice. If you remember, the men's room used to have a waterfall for a urinal. I used to love pissing into the waterfall! I ate at the old place (for the last time) in early June, 2005. My next trip (6 weeks later), I ate in the new place. It happened that fast!

As Orange said, they moved directly across the street (from the old location) into a new building. It's much nicer. Huge bar, big screen t.v., pool on-site, additional upstairs dining, reasonable prices, outstanding food and service, and roaming musicians on the weekends.

The owners (Michael & Craig) are both from California, and definitely know the meaning of 'customer service'. The manager, Fernando, is a local Tico, and he is also a great guy. We usually bring our own fish for them to cook, but regardless, the food is always outstanding.

MG

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You ALWAYS have an option ....... "NEXT" !!!

I also enjoyed Esq. de BA, the food and service was great. However the old guy at the register was an a$$hole, I asked for the bill and everything was cool the discount was there, I paid with my CC. Turns out the dessert and coffee were not included, so I said no big deal I'll pay for it with cash, I give him a 10,000 colon bill.......a he starts freeking out telling to give him a smaller bill, I would've givin it to him if I had it, but I didn't........... He gave me change and the whole time he's counting the money he's talking $hit. I couldn't believe it, Maybe he was having a bad day....... He's lucky I was having a good day.

Ameritico,

I know the old guy you're referring to. I was told he's the father of the restaurant's owner. My first visit to the restaurant, I walked up to him and asked him where the restroom was. He gave me a nasty look and threw his arm back toward the direction of the restroom, never saying a word.

Another time I was there, the old guy screwed up the bill for a group of 4 gringos. I'm not exaggerating when I say those guys waited an hour for the bill to get straightened out.

Other than that.....it's a great place.

Zebra

The old guy is the father of the owner who is terrific; the old guy is always an asshole, I guess he just hates life in general.
The place is great though.

I recall the Happy Snapper being right on the beach and you could in fact sit right out on the sand and eat wioth the waves crashing in. It has been some time sice I was in area as I said 8 to 10 years ago. The Playa Conchal Resort was new at the time and the nicest hotel in the area. I also reacall a neat upstairs bar at Flamingo Beach with attached hotel that was a neat place. Can't recall name of it though.rbc100

_________________
In Search of Fine Kittens,
Please... Bring back the Muff

The Mariner Inn. Great local party bar on top of the small motel. Rooms there are only $39 per night, and very basic. Many locals hang out at the Mariner Inn. It's about the best place in Flamingo to pick up a non-pro / local Tica, and the prices are right.
MG

_________________
You ALWAYS have an option ....... "NEXT" !!!

Orange wrote:



Have said it before and will say it again. Nuestra Tierra is a mediocre overpriced tourist rip off. Apologies to all who write rave reviews about the place but there are many places in San Jose that have better food at half the price. Off course they do not have the tourist buses parked outside with the guides collecting their cut for bringing the lambs to slaughter.

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Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine