www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Steak: L'Ancora- Barrio Escalante. The best meat I have had in Costa Rica.

Tipical:
Nuestra Tierra- open 24 hours, close to HDR on Ave. Segunda 3or 4 blocks east, problem is
abit pricey but decent Tico Food. They have alot of Tourist now and then.

Soda Peru- already mentioned elsewhere but great food and prices and customer service.

Fish:
El Balcon De Los Mariscos- Curridibat, Ticos only here and great food and prices.
Great Octopus, Shrimp, Ceviche, etc. Nice place to go to avoid seeing other gringoes.
Usually packed all the time for price/quality, service is great. 2400. colone taxi one way from the gulch but worth it. Just avoid 4-6 rush hour. Take your Tica here instead of the Del Mar and save $$. so she does not order the 10K colones
camarones.

Mexican Food:
Hurraches- East of Hospital de las Mujeres.
Jardin Cervecheria, San Sebastian exit off the Pista....a few blocks northish from Hypermas/San Sebastian Rotunda the pista towards downtown.
Taquilla Grill- East Tibas main drag across from Rostipollos.
Jaliscos- across pista detras de Mall San Pedro. Really tasty stuff. Problem is the train though.

Mi Colombian Parrilla- Colombian Food- Paseo Colon corner south of Oasis MP and Macchu Pinchu. Sat and Sun special grills. Excellent Customer Service.

Arepas: Ave 7 north of Parque Morazon. Young Venezuelan guy owns it and has a great selection of Arepas stuffed with different entres... Fried Yucca. Fruit drinks.

Sushi: #1 place is Sushi Samarai in Escazu, Itscazu Plaza. They serve white Tuna sashimi, I have only had it here in CR and been everywhere including Japan. Excellent Naturales bebidas too. Abit pricy like the states. Leave your chica at home and go with other buddies. But don't eat at their other location called "White Tuna" it sucks and costly. Nobody seems to eat there.

Carbon and Sabor: Mall San Pedro, 3rd Piso. Excellent beef and chicken, Colombian owned.

Cafe Q' on Avenida Central. Lunch Specials... great place. Best Cappuchino and Sandia (watermelon drinks) in town... I challenge anyone to tell me a better place for those.

Mediterraean: Calle 3, below VIPS. Couple owns it, good food and service.
Next to Goyi sushi.... Upstairs in food court mall east of Balmoral/El Patio. Forgot name, but
food is good, hummus, falafels, etc.

Places to avoid:
Tony Romas, TGIF in Escazu- priced beyond reasonable and mediocre.
McDonalds, KFC, Pizza Hut ($20. for hardly anything)
Presidente Hotel: News Cafe sucks... bad food, small portions,service, attitude, expensive and Cafe Q has a better view. They will harrass your girl if she dresses sexy.
Hooters.... please..., shitty dried up wings in Escazu, not been nor interested in San Pedro Location. Why not just go to the HDR to look at girls?

Good list, except for this shithole. This is a tourist trap if I ever saw one.

I ordered rotisserie chicken and it came cold (after a 45 min wait-the place was almost empty). So I told them to go get me a hot piece, so she takes it to the back and sticks it in the microwave. I could see it in plain sight. If I wanted reheated chicken, I could've gone a supermarket and bought a Swanson dinner for $5, not paid $20 at this place.

Sorry to hear this.. I used to enjoy eating there. It has been at least 5 years since I have been there though.

Where is Cafe Q in relation to the News Cafe ? Is it mostly a coffeehouse type place ?

For good cheap late-night munchies, try Tico Hamberguesa next to AM/PM in San Pedro. It is not classy but the food is good and you can get a bunch of grub for little money. We hit it every once in awhile for late-night take-out. They make a tico-taco thingee that is a tortilla wrapped around shredded cabbage and tomato with a big chunk of sausage in the middle. Really good but messy.

_________________
"Your love gives me such a thrill
but your love don't pay my bills,
I NEED THE MONEY!" - John Lee Hooker

Disclaimer: The above is merely the opinion of the author unless specific scientific data is included.
Your mileage may vary. https://costaricaticas.com/phpBB2/viewto ... 978#206978

Agreed. The first time I went to Nuestra Tierra maybe 3 and a half years ago, I remember it being reasonably priced with good food. My second time there about a year or so after that it seemed to be much more expensive and not as good.

I also remember liking the Princessa Marina chain.

_________________
"All them women gonna make me,
teach 'em what they don't know how..." TMIB

Great post, good selection of restaurants, seems like you know the better places...the fish place was the only one recommended to me by a friend who has over 40 years experience throughout Latin America, it was the only place that you could count on it being fresh. Now there are more iced down fish transports, but beware, some still don't ice from catch to plate.

I'd recommend El Vasquero two blocks west of the HDL. Tico place, but cuts of pork, beef, chicken and fish have, well, meat on the bones. He also has 5 different hot sauces that he learned to make in Mexico.