www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Yeh, so Ive been here like 3 days, and believe it not I just cant find food. I know I know their are lots of restaurants or little boutique like places selling food, but EVERY single one I go in, I talk in english and they have no sweet clue what Im saying.

Like its almost impossible, I went over to that place on the corner a few buildings down from the Prez there on the way to the DR and I couldnt understand anything on the menu except "Whiskey". I went over to Hamburger Factory, and I couldnt understand what anything is, and I cant just say like Number 1, because I hate certain things on my hamburger. Like whats jambali or something like that?

Ive only been able thus far to eat at the DR, SkyBox, and that place that sells the chicken, and even that guy had no idea what I was saying.

So, do any places sell food, good food, that have english speaking people? Its almost come to the point that Ill have to go to McDonalds..

Jmacaula,
I have 2 places for you...

1. La Esquina de Buenos Aires (Argentinian Steakhouse)--search the forum for exact location.
2. Colonial Casino Restaurant (next to HDR)

The steakhouse give a 10% VIP discount. The menus are in Spanish and English, and the staff speaks pretty good English. The food is excellent, I like their tenderloin, but don't get it cooked anything more than medium or it will be rough. Also, unless you like it spicy, I'd avoid the pepper-corn sauce.

The Colonial can be tricky. What I found out after our visit there is that they have 2 menus. The tico menu and the gringo menu. Obviously, the gringo menu brings a couple of words to mind.. price gouging. The tico menu is supposed to be the same but I assume it's in Spanish and the prices are lower. We had the gringo menu and paid about $20-22 per entree. I had the "Sea Bass Colonial", probably the best seafood dish that I have ever had. I don't throw those words around loosely either.

Enjoy.

Whats the dress code on the steak house? I cant really do go to fancy as I dont have any real "dress" clothes or anything. I just remember in Cuba, I wasnt able to go to any of the steak houses because the best I had was jeans and a polo.

Any other options out there?

J man, I went to the 2 places you mention by the Presidente on my 1st trip and knew NO SPANISH and was able to order food. Believe me they know Hamburger and you point at the toppings as you go through the line. Cheles, the corner place has been dealing with drunken gringos for years, including me and amazingly food is ordered and received.
I do not want to create an incident here but I am beginning to question the purpose of some of your posts. This one also just does not feel right.
Enjoy!

You've been wandering around there solo 3 days and speak no spanish- WHY don't you find some CRT members to chat with and point you in the right direction, surely some are down there this week and God knows you could use the help. They'll be at the Presidente at breakfast or at the DelRey around 5-ish for happy hour.

_________________

Living well is the best revenge
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MwUtj_YnNoY

None. Jeans, shorts, whatever you want as far as I know. We didn't dress up or anything, neither did any of the other patrons.

You might want to also try buying a English-Spanish dictionary and write down the the things you want to order and tell the people, or find someone who speaks both languages during the day (there are tons) annd ask them how to say what you want to eat in Spanish.

Even better still, two of my favorite restaurants La Piazetta and Lucas in El Pueblo have English on the menu and Lucas even has a menu only in English. Besides these two Soda Peru has their table top menu with English.

Good luck.

I like the Hamburgesa Factory also. I had little problem ordering since they have overhead pictures with numbers of the available meals. On the few occasions when I did need to communicate with them, they always had someone there that could speak English.

I have really found my inability to speak Spanish, only a minor inconvenience, regardless if I'm in a restaurant or whatever.

It seems I can always get by with the little bit of Spanish I know.....the little bit of English they know.....and the sign language in between.

Zebra

Just point and say una por favor (One please)

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Hanging in Laurelas with the Paisas

Jump in a taxi for $2 and go to Pueblo. There are plenty of good places to eat there. My favorite - Lucas - makes an outstanding Arroz con Pollo (just make sure to dump some Tico Tabasco on it). There is also an excellent seafood and steak place inside. Walk around, you won't be disappointed !

Yea, great shopping area with tons of food.

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Hanging in Laurelas with the Paisas

No one has mentioned a CRT favorite. Costa Del Sol. Block and a half east of Presidente on Ave Cenntral and home of the famous Chicken Parmesan. CRT discount with VIP card and staff there also speak passable English.Plus pizza on display so just point as Twarag says.

JMac you are starting to make us Canucks look pretty foolish-come on guy think a little before you pound away at the keyboard.

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Y.N.W.A.

Hey again newbie!

Places where I know the staff speaks English:

The News Cafe in the Hotel Presidente
Costa del Sol...Sergio speaks at least some English, and Italian food is Italian food...pizza is pizza.
Most restaurants in/near the Gulch have at least a couple people who can speak at least some English. Here's a quick list of burger toppings in Spanish:

Mostaza - Mustard
Cat-soop, or salsa de tomate (toh-MAH-tay) Catsup
Cebolla (say-BOY-zhah) - Onion
Pepinillos - (pay-peh-NEE-yohs) - Pickles
Queso (KAY-soh) - Cheese
Papas Fritas or simply Fritas - French fries.
"Hay un menu en ingle's?" (Aye oon meh-noo en een-glaze?" Do you have a menu in English?
La cuenta, por favor - "Check, please."

Hope this helps, buddy. If nothing else, visit one of the supermarkets and buy fresh food, bread, cold cuts, cheese, fruit. There's a Mas X Menos (Mahs por Meh-nos) store right near the Gulch...hey, you can even buy beers and liquor there! Don't starve, friend. Just be brave, nod and point, and have fun.

Oh, one more thing:

Elsewhere on this site is a link to Paul Glassman's excellent travel site on Costa Rica; the link points to a page featuring food vocabulary. Here it is again...

http://www.paulglassman.com/cr4.htm Print this list if you can; it has about 50 different food and beverage words in English and their Spanish equivalents.

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

I'm starting to feel better about public education in Georgia.

That is a statement I never thought I'd say.

Now I seen everything.

_________________
SlickWings


Seems like I spend half my life drinking, gambling, and mongering. The other half... I waste.

Sorry for the spelling problems. After using MSN for years and picking up tons of slang, grammer seemed to take a big hit. Also if you look I wrote that at nearly 2AM


Thanks to those that actually posted useful comments. The thing about the pizza and the point and buy purchase was I was looking for more of a meal, not just odd things like a slice of pizza.

Ive been to the supermarket 2-3 times now, but never thought to actully buy food and prepare something myself.


Pshh, your trying to tell me people from Georgia talk any better then me? It might be close, BUT I think I may be a tad better.