www.CostaRicaTicas.com

It's been several years since I have been there. (since they were closed down for dirty water or something) A friend and I ate there last night. It was as good as ever. We each had the cerviche mixto,a medium size deep fried whole fish stuffed with large shrimp in garlic.and a ginger ale. The total cost was 10.000 each. (not bad at all)

He's 100% correct.

I always go there (Sabannah location) every trip. 50x. Love it. Earl "Duke, duke, duke or Earl" Montoya who has kind of disappeared turned me on to that place years ago. Avoid it at lunch time, packed with nearby ICE/other office staff, you can wait a long time to get seated. Same with 5-6pm.

It was another branch, same name, they own in SJ that got cited.

The place in Savana is spotless but who knows what goes on behind closed doors in any eatery, internationally.

Ceviche and the seafood soup to die for. Big portions on entrees. Very reasonable prices. Don't expect a alot of seating room at lunch time, or dinner time. You may be elbow to elbow with strangers when it's prime time, unless they changed seating since April. But, if an eatery is that popular with Ticos as it is, that speaks volumes.

Service is very slow even beyond the SJ norm. So if you are going to want a couple of Imperials, order two at the get go; when you are getting ready to leave, ask for your check as soon as possible--it'll be 10 minutes. Leave your tip, but then take the bill to the cashier personally, pay, and keep your receipt in hand. They have the Del Rey problem if you know what I mean. A long time ago, a waiter stopped my rent a car saying I hadn't paid. I went back in and in fact I had overpaid, and that caused a few un met stares between the waiter, the cashier, and the stupid gringo.

Vegas Bob

I don't want to throw stones at your review but I have several comments. First of all, I found that the food at Princessa was mostly fried and rather pedestrian. I have not tried the ceviche, so I have to assume that it is good by your review. If I had to compare this restaurant, I would compare it to Red Lobster. Nothing special, really. The interior is more like Long John Silvers (and a little worn and dirty by my recollection). At approximately $20 US, its no bargain either. Lets face it, Costa Rica dining is not cheap.

I visited this restaurant on my first visit over 3 years ago and was charged $60 for diner for 2. I could not understand the bill and I think they padded it. I did not fight them as I was on a date and in a good mood. Maybe I tried the wrong thing or was there on a bad night, but I was not impressed, and I don't think I will ever go back.

Funny how one place gets viewed diff. Don't doubt you, but I always found it to be spotless including the heads. But, you could be right, their other place did get closed for awhile for some kind of sanitation issue if I remember. They serve broiled and non-fried also, and I agree the place could remind someone of a CR version of Red Lobster or LJS, and is a little dated furniture wise, and warned they had the DelRey problem with gringo checks. My main beef is the slow service. It's packed with the Tico office crowd every lunch and with Tico's at dinner time. so good place to go Sat or Sun for lunch.

So true so might as well throw in my impression. Have always found the restaurant clean including the bathroom which is also well stocked., The food adequate nothing to get excited about. Price use to be one of the great bargains in San Jose now is on par with the quality of the food. Service is not very good most of the time. The biggest problem I find is the place reminds me a military mess hall. There is absolutely no ambiance and nothing to absorb sound so it can be very very noisy at times.

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Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
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Alex Levine

I agree. Not a classy place. Food OK but not outstanding, ambience very weak, service marginal.

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Play Safe

I remembered eating there 5 or 6 years ago, so I looked up what I said:

Boy, that's a fact, 'D

The place as I remember it - we went for the lobster - small, spiney, not close to Maine - was OK - in fact, for Costa Rica, I'd even bump it to pretty good.

ID is correct in the total lack of ambiance, and because its basically a large, open room, it can get noisy - I don't recall a specific issue with the service, either particularly slow, or the waiters having the "DelRey syndrome" - then again, I tend to judge places in CR by the friendliness of the server(s) vs their efficiency - come to think of it, I do the same thing in the USA too.

Its worth a visit, I think, especially if you have not been to many places outside the gulch.

ID....reminds you of a military mess hall....perfect. I guess I agree that the place isn't fantastic (or else I probably would have been back by now) but the cerviche and deep fried whole fish are really good and worth the negatives of the place.