www.CostaRicaTicas.com

If you go to Tamarindo for vacation or are just passing through en route to a nicer beach, this place is easily your best bet for a great meal.

It is not inexpensive but not too terrible either, I would $25-40 is what you can expect to pay for three courses and a glass of wine. Nice selection of sorbets and tarts for dessert as well as some tempting starters but the main dishes are the real draw here.

If they have the jumbo prawn dish available, GET IT, this was easily the best thing on the menu when we went. The steaks are ample, lean and flavorful, that would be my second choice if the prawn dish is not included on the daily specials.

The design of the restaurant is quite effective, this is one of those rare places where you can get lost in the atmosphere and almost feel stunned when you return to the surroundings outside. I mean this place is on a dirt road with a slew of hostels and pizza joints off the main drag. But with a fountain, small pool and garden in the back, this place feels more like Orange County than Costa Rica ... but for once I am saying that in a positive way!

The clientele was exclusively American and actually rather wealthy. This does not really mean much to me but I thought it was worth mentioning.

Schlomy himself hangs around and schmoozes with the guest although he did not come to see us. Given that a couple people in our party were Israeli (and we were all Members of the Tribe), I found this odd, but ce la vie, we had a little Larry David moment with him on the way out.

All in all, high price for the area but overpriced, excellent ambience, pleasant service, delicious entrees and I would recommend this place without reservation.