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Has anyone dined at La Palma Restaurant & Bar next to Hotel Castillo? I will be staying at Hotel Castillo the end of the month. Since the restaurant is next door I might eat there a few times provided the food is good.

Thanks for any info.

La Palma as far as I know has no reopened for dining. It had closed down about 8 months ago as the food was decent but pricey and the service down right SUCKED!

I know they were having some events there of socials or something ,but do not think they have re-opened for dinner yet. Its a shame its a nice place....

I did go past there last week, and the doors were open but have no idea what was going on.

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The Boss of All Bosses!!! Hey I'm a drunk alcoholics go to meetings!

One Sunday night last November, my date and I took a taxi to Cafe Mundo and found it closed, so walked a couple of blocks down the street to Las Palmas. The main restaurant was closed, but the bar in the back had a few dining tables and offered a choice of chicken or steak. My date ordered the chicken and said it was okay. I ordered the steak and it was the worst steak I’ve ever attempted to eat. I couldn’t even swallow it. It was like steak chewing gum. All I could do was chew the gristle for flavor and spit it out. Maybe it was just a bad night for them, but I will not go back.

At Hotel Castillo, you’ll be 2 blocks down the hill from Cafe Mundo which is an excellent restaurant. You’ll also be right around the corner from Hotel Don Carlos which has a good, inexpensive little restaurant. You’ll also be a few blocks up the hill from New Fantasy and Zona Blue so you could always dine at the Y.

Don, That is just too funny. LOL




My intentions are to get my desert at one of these places.

I talked to the supposed new chef in December, and posted what he told me. Haven't they reopened yet? They were supposed to around the first of the year.

I just met an american guy who is working there. He said they are now open 6 days per week. I havent had a chance to check it out yet or know anything about the cuisine. He did say they continue to have some staffing problems (big surprise in CR ). Bottom line is I will check it out when I get back from a USA trip this next week.

The bar there was always a nice little "Cheers" bar for expats. Hope they can get that going again.

Seems like a very nice location and a nice property. There must be some inner problems we don't know about. Have heard some really good things about it in the past.

I was there in November. Chicken brochettes were great as well as all the fixins.

Has anyone tried Jurgens? pricey and no view but very nice, great service and food. They change the menu each month and its really good grubs! I don't have the address but its near the San Pedro Mall. French style with a difference!

YMMV, I had one of the best meals I've had in CR when I went to La Palma a couple of years back. The place was mostly empty and the service was still not the most prompt but was okay. I thought the food was excellent (at least what I ordered - a tropical curried chicken dish). But I have heard all the other complaints and that may have had something to do with why there were so few people there back then and why it subsequently closed down. I'd be curious to see if they've gotten their act together. Perhaps we should wait for some new reviews by members that have actually eaten there since they've reopened.

BTW, this might be coming a little late for herbf but not for others staying in that neighborhood, in addition to Cafe Mundo (which I agree is absolutely excellent) there is also JR's House of Ribs, which is a short walk down the next block (past the NF) and around the corner, and for lunch try La Criollita, which is on the way back to the Gulch (bang a short right at the metal building and it will be on your left).

Jurgens is inside the Hotel Jade in the Barrio Dent district, near the
Mall de San Pedro.

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"In a nation ruled by swine, all pigs are upwardly mobile, and the rest of us are phucked until we can put our acts together; not necessarily to win, but mainly to keep from losing completely"...Hunter S. Thompson (RIP)

There are LOTS of places to eat in that area. Many specialize in the lunch trade from INS, but Cafe Hanna, Criolitos, the new Mariscaria across Calle 9 from INS and several others nearby are worth looking into. SL is another good choice. I couldn't name them all, but within 3 blocks there are at least 10 restaurants. If you enlarge the radius a little there are many more. Explore.

well i have on a couple of occassions ate there. the catch of the day, is what chef pedro could catch, and he is fast all in all decent food pura vida