www.CostaRicaTicas.com

I stayed a few nights in Hotel Castillo last week. The restaurant next door that was formerly the Gardens is once again Las Palmas Grill. It advertises it's self as Peruvian. Lots of seafood on the menu but a good selection of other dishes too. Only the back bar is open for drinking. The one in front is for dining. All of the the derelict slot machines are gone, replaced with tablecloth covered tables. They are open for breakfast every day from 7:30 with a decent breakfast menu.

The place has definately been taken up-market a notch or two and the prices have followed. I don't know if the CRT discount still applies but Castillo guests can receive a 15% discount.

They seem to draw a good sized weekday lunch crowd from the INS workers and others in the area. They have a 2000 colone plato de dia which is a pretty good deal.

The bad news... NO CHICAS! Oh well, SL is only a block away and the turn out there seemed to be pretty strong.

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Women are like beers. I've never had one that I didn't like. Just some that I like more than others! --Western

How do they feel about BYOC [bring your own chica] into the bar or restaurant?

In October I was told if I was staying there it was OK to bring a girl back.
I did several times to the back bar for drinks and there was no problem.
Usually just a few guys there anyway. No girls. I took one into the restaurant to eat one evening and I could tell it was frowned upon even though we were the only customers in the place. She was treated rudely and very bad vibes (25+ years restaurant exp. I can tell) I guess they didn't approve of a 22 y.o. nica with a 52 y.o. gringo. They did take my money though...

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Knowledge speaks...Wisdom listens

Hey Seabee......received your pm, amigo. Check yours......Zebra

My experience was that solo chica's are not welcomed. They tell them in Spanish that "This is not the Del Rey". But, if you are a Castillo guest, polite, and known, they will serve your chica with a reserved smile when you bring her there. If you want to skip that, visit SL, have a drink and bring your chica in through the Castillo front door to your abode or for a nightcap at the Palmas Bar. Being subtle counts for much.

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Providing humanitarian assistance to self employed chicas, one cash grant at a time.

Does the Castillio hotel still have the same policy of no
chica fee, ? I have a reservation there for December.

NO CHICA FEE

Castillo is extremely chica friendly. BUT, always make your chica show her ID (cedula) at the front desk. That gives the hotel a record of who your guest was in case something gets pilfered etc. Legit chicas know that this is for their protection too.

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Providing humanitarian assistance to self employed chicas, one cash grant at a time.

I'm happy that there is still a plato del dia available. I hope the bar hasn't gone up too much. I also hope for pleasant bartenders since they'll be in my front yard soon.

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Moral indignation is in most cases 2% moral, 48% indignation and 50% envy.

VITTORIO DE SICA

There is a daily 2 for 1 happy hour that is a good deal. Friendly, competent staff too.

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Women are like beers. I've never had one that I didn't like. Just some that I like more than others! --Western

I ate there under the old ownership, very basic, burgers and nachos and comida tipica. I guess a corvino dish or two.

Did the owner pass away? He had a bad run in with some Ticos last year, he got shitfaced one day and told me the whole story.

Any which way, onto the Peruano renovation.

The staff is mostly nice, particularly Savy and Javy. I told our other waiter I did not like my soup and he seemed offended. Was I supposed to lie? He is not my girlfriend's mother for chrissake.

I think the place is, however, vastly overpriced for the most part. The only thing I would recommend are the ceviches, reasonably priced, amply sized and tasty.

You can also go for the big ass platter, it is about 40 bucks but if you have a party of 3 or 4 it is the best way to sample all they have to offer and get the bill reasonable. That is the way to go if at all. The smaller platters are filled with fried stuff and still about 10 a person.

Also went here for breakfast one morning, not bad, good fruits to be sure.

Hotel Castillo is not to be advertised guys! A nice place for a fair price with a friendly staff and no chica fee makes it popular enough. There are still girls here, first of all about 50 come in and out every day with guests and secondly I have several times been approached sitting in this very chair by unaccompanied ones. It seems less prevalent than before but between that bit of action, the SL and about a dozen MPs within walking distance for even the fattest ass, I think you will be fine staying here.

A bar menu of snack food is now available. Also, supposedly the front bar will be open later this week. Over all the food is better than the last few incarnations of this restaurant. Lunch and the Sunday BBQ get a sizable Tico crowd, as does the bar some nights. There are lots of folks from INS here most days.

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Moral indignation is in most cases 2% moral, 48% indignation and 50% envy.

VITTORIO DE SICA

I've just eaten there 3 times in the past week. EXCELLENT food. The Shrimp Soup (Chupe de Camarone) was fantastic. French fries are seasoned and crispy and Breaded Sea Bass was excellent. Very stylish looking place and very calm environment and relaxing music. White Tableclothes (actually cloth) and decent size tables too. Really enjoyed the patio area. Paying cash gets you 10% discount. Very good service too.

Tom passed away?

Not Tom.......Tom's partner, Bo, was killed in a motorcycle accident in San Jose about 2 months ago. There is a thread concerning Bo's death on this forum.....I think it was under the "General Information" section.