www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Pidd,Novice and I had a wonderful dinner at Cafe Mundo last night. It was a pleasure,as always,sitting outside on the porch eating some of the best food in SJ. This restaurant doesn't get enough praise from CRT for being a consistant,high quality,medium priced alternative.

OK, can somebody help me... I am pretty sure I know the location, but I couldn't find the entrance...

It is at the point where the street bends to the right and leads you to the street that SL is on, right? Is the restaurant on the right or left side of the street as you're coming from the hospital down that street.

I was there 2 Fridays ago and we walked around for like 10 minutes and couldn't find it.

Orange,

I know the feeling. The first time I tried to find the place, I walked around the block 3 times! THEY DO NOT HAVE A SIGN.

Walking up the street from the Hotel Castillo....you walk about 3 or 4 blocks [past the street that Sportsmens is on] until the street curves to the left. CAFE MUNDO is right at the curve on the left side of the street. You won't see it, as it is sort of "above you." It looks like an ordinary house with a front porch. There is a metal [I think] door that enters into an outside stairway leading about 10 steps upward.

Hope this helps
Zebra

Back in the day, that place used to be very gay, male & female, customers & staff? Not a problem, but not for me--people can get the wrong impression. Still that way?

No....it seems very straight now.

Kinda looks like a house on the corner. I was ignored by the hostess the last time there. I ended up walking out and to JR's for ribs.

It sure felt gay.

The only thing that detracted from my enjoyment of Cafe Mundo was their choice of background music. World Trance Techno? It was very irritating as I tried to eat otherwise excellent novo italiano cuisine. The brochetta is not to be missed, nor is the pizza rustico with ham and fresh mushrooms. The salads are superb as well.

What's the matter, you guys blind or what? I found it all three visits no problem. Open your noses, boys, and find it like Stevie.

_________________
Pura Vulva! Wandering through the dark, I am El Ciego.

My favorite place in SJ to take a chica and/or just have a good meal with other board members.

Great atmosphere with outdoor dining both in front (my favorite tables), or out back in the garden area. The inside is smaller rooms, much like an old house. The menu, as El C said is Nuevo Italiano with a few nice fish dishes also. Pastas come in full or half an order, which makes for nice small plate meals. Some unusual apps, a good list of salads and a great dessert list. A good place to order a lot of things to share and try new stuff.

Nice wine list, fair prices for CR. The house red is very good for the price.

It’s a good restaurant…It may be run by somebody who may be gay…but so are over half of the top 10 restaurants in the US. Food has no gender or sexual preference!

Mendo

_________________
"It takes a lot of good beer to make a great wine"

I don't give a pucker if anyone involved with the restaurant is gay. I just said it felt gay with all the tecno-trance music (which I associate with the gay club scene).

Thumpa-thumpa-thumpa-thumpa. "Hey Sailor, new in town?" Thumpa-thumpa-thumpa-thumpa. Think the "Blue OysterBar" scene in Police Academy.


Mendo, thanks for the wine comments. I know that you know about good wine, and it was good to hear your assessment of Cafe Mundo's cellar. I'll try the house red on my next visit.

Or maybe a bottle if you and I can agree on one.

BTW, the pasta con mariscos mixtos is stellar, in my experience.

It's a two-minute walk from the Castillo/SL. Cafe Mundo makes for a good change from the Sl's menu, and the food/ambience make it a must-try if you're in the neighborhood.


Thumpa-thumpa-thumpa-thumpa. "Mind if I push in your stool?" Thumpa-thumpa-thumpa-thumpa.

_________________
Pura Vulva! Wandering through the dark, I am El Ciego.

YO Mundo:

Last trip Don Papi and me had dinner there. It had been so long since I had been there that I had forgotten it when our taxi arrived. No, don't blame it on the vodkas.

I could give a shit about the gay patrons. In fact, there were two very apparent gay fellows sitting at the table next to us that had a candle lit cake brought to them....probably celebrating their one week or month anniversary. No problema....they seem to be enjoying the ambiance of the moment and cordially said hello to us.

Yeah, the food and outdoor tables are good but I can't stand that damn dog that runs around inside the restaurant and comes outside to to bark and piss on the curb.

Come to think of it I believe the dog is male and as we were leaving the dog ran over and humped my leg. Yep! It's definitly sprinkled with a gay staff. Sort of made old Circus feel used. Oh hell, I've had a few dogs in my life but damn....four legged ones I can do without.

Don Papi wrote me off his email list. Shit, I'm just pitiful.

_________________
Damn if I'm going to repeat this shit again. I need a drink.
I've been drinking vodka every day for 45 years and I have certainly never found it to be habit forming.

And I thought the thumpa, thumpa, thumpa was coming from the combination of my heart and c*ck as I looked down the top of the chica I was with….

Circus…that dogs name is Hoover…does all the clean up on the floors…or he could be the next unusual appetizer in a couple of weeks…

All kidding aside it is a great little place, a nice change from the SL…as a mater of fact, it was Bill that sent me there the first time.

Mendo

_________________
"It takes a lot of good beer to make a great wine"

Yes, I enjoy Cafe Mundo as well.

Something else worth noting.......the house has a sort of "American look" to it. Looks like a house built in ANYSMALLTOWN, USA, circa 1930-1940, with its big front porch, large rooms, plastered walls and high ceilings. Seems different than the typical CR house.

Zebra

My impression was that it was a little more expensive than other places in the area for lunch and that it was not quite worth the extra money. Sadly, Cafe Hanna seems to have closed, because it was a slightly cheaper version and even closer for me. I've only gone there alone and was in the midst of Ticos from local businesses or the hospital who were having lunch. The crowd was similar to Criolitas, which I don't think of as having any particular sexual orientation. I've never been there at night, but my two visits were pleasant enough, but nothing special.

Have to say, this is one of my regular dinner stops in SJ. Have had 1/2 the menu over my last 6 or 7 trips and every meal has been nothing short of outstanding.

Yes, I have also seen on several ocassions couples of the same gender enjoying dinner and quite obviously of other sexual orientation than ourselves. This does not bother me at all as I am ususally with my novia and quite often with another couple.

Have to admire the wine list as well, have several different varieties and I particularly enjoy the house Pinot Grigio as well the house Merlot was quite good.

On a nice evening (when is there not in SJ)......Highly recommend the front patio or rear garden area for eating...sometimes difficult when they are busy

Never knew there was a rear garden area....I'll have to try that out next time.