www.CostaRicaTicas.com

I visited BAR B-Q EL CHICOTE for the first time 3 days ago, and was pleasantly surprised. My amiga suggested this place as a restuarant she wanted to try. So, off we went... with her mama in tow... to celebrate mom's 50th birthday. We ordered cerviche appetizers which were very good. My Pincho Ranchero lomito was grilled to perfection and very tasty. I sampled my guests' scallopini and corvina and liked these dishes as well.

El Chicote is a class operation: very quiet and "comodo", attentive waiters with a flare for charm and subtle humor, linen tablecloths, and a fine wine selection from all over the world. The bill came to what one would expect from a top shelf San Jose establishment...56,000 C for 3 people...without splurging. I will return after my wallet recovers.

The restaurant is situated 400 mts west of the ICE Building on Avenida Las Americas in Sabana Norte. Details are provided on the website: www.elchicote.com.

Peace,

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Blue Devil

Pura Vida...enjoying life to the fullest...

Has been a favorite over many years. Excellent beef which is so difficult to get in Costa Rica.

Has been in the same place for years which in Costa Rica is real feat for a restaurant and usually indicates good food.

Certainly not cheap but worth splurging occasionally.

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Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine

I agree with all the above. For 10 years I lived 3 blocks from EL CHICOTE.
Some of the wait staff have been there for years. Over time I got to know some of them very well. It was a cool neighborhood back then. Quiet, not much traffic, I could go to Las Tunas get a load on, then cruise to El Chicote for a good steak and the stumble 3 blocks to the apartment. Ah life was good. That was then, this is now. But for sure a very good restaurant.

tuanis

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not as good as I once was, but as good once as I ever was

http://www.elchicote.com Now it works.

Thanks for the review, maybe I will test it in the future.

We had a great meal at El Chicote last Friday. Shrimp cocktail and Baby Beef were delicious.

The waiter tried real hard to guilt trip us into an additional propina. We didn't tip any additional. There was a 10% service charge built in as is standard in all of CR. He really was giving us major attitude because we didn't throw some extra colones.

Are you guys tipping above and beyond the 10%.

If my Tica had been with us she would of ripped him a new one.

has does it compare to Fogo Brasil in cost and food

It depends on the service. If the service is good, and I don't mean by Costa Rican standards, then I will leave an extra 5-10%. If the service is average or worse, the included 10% is all they get.

I know a few people who also do it this way.

I left a couple of thousand C extra because the service was exceptional. The wait staff seemed pleased with the little extra propina.

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Blue Devil

Pura Vida...enjoying life to the fullest...

We also ate at Fogo Brasil three weeks ago. I am a fan of FB and enjoy the wide variety of the buffet and smorgasbord of meat. El Chicote offers some fine selections off the menu, and FB is a take what you want and eat all you want affair. Dinner for two came to 33K...comparable pricing to El Chicote.

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Blue Devil

Pura Vida...enjoying life to the fullest...

In my experience, if you overtip in Costa Rica, you are viewed as stupid not generous. Leave an extra 5% if service was great (don't hold your breath though).

I happened to be in Sabana Norte last evening with a friend,so I suggested we eat at El Chicote. I hadn't eaten there in a few years. Well the place hasn't changed a bit,and the decor,service and food were all excellent. We each had the "house specialty" baby beef tenderloin which was really great. With a drink and dinner,and nothing else the bill was $23 each. This was certainly more than reasonable for a meal this good. I recommend this restaurant for a quiet interlude with your "chica especiale" or a couple of guys looking for a fine steak. The restaurant is well known by taxis and is a 10-15 minute ride from the Gulch.