www.CostaRicaTicas.com

I love Balcon Europa for their simple french country food (the pasta is fine, but not their best)..The only problem is, it is so close to the DR, that it does not have that romantic getting away from it all quality. However, the Beef Bourgonon is fantastic, as are the other french dishes...

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I said hey baby, take a walk on the wild side.
Lou Reed

La Esquina de Buenos Aires as long as she is presentable.

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Go Dolphins!!!

Along those same lines, I had a really nice meal with x novia at Gran Hotel Costa Rica. Atmosphere was great as was the food and service. I don't remember what I spent but I don't remember it being too expensive. Only downside is not such a great location.

http://www.grandhotelcostarica.com/

Here's some pix of the "Tierra Tica' at Ram Luna:
http://www.costaricaphotos.com/v/tours/ram_luna/
Here's a YouTube video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pgE-TIKCP_U

Sounds like a good time, even with the travel time.

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"A man accustomed to hear only the echo of his own sentiments, soon bars all the common avenues of delight, and has no part in the general gratification of mankind"--Dr. Johnson
"Amen, brother"-ED

I would have to disagree with JR's it is overpriced and the food is at best OK. The White House , Monestrae(sp) or Inca Grill. Have not yet tried Rum Luna but heard good things about it.

Buzzfla...I would agree the price is not cheap but the two times i went I got the ribs, and it was awesome. My buddy who goes with me also gets the ribs and he felt it was worth the higher prices. I can't speak for other items on the menu. Did you go to the one in Barrio Amon or Escazu?

I have been into different french restaurants and nothing extraordinary but I realized Beef Bourgonon is superb! They have fabulous menu and its cozy place! You will also love the idealistic performance on the services and dishes, say it, you are the boss!

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restaurant

I am green with envy. I don't get there until the 21st! But I'm delighted you're going to be in town.

EdB, thanks for the recon... as always your info is top notch and on the money!

mh

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mh

Have never heard of it. Can you give us a location? Sounds like it is worth a try.

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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 have been to JR's in Barrio Amon several times . Like I said it is OK at best and surely it is not elegant.

It's pretty good, but the prices are relatively high (unless you get the lunch specials for like ¢3500). And I did get violently sick from it once. It hit me on my evening flight home after I ate lunch there. I have not been back since. I'm scared.

Just throwing in here on prices. A lot of places are called high priced, but a lot has to do with distributors and suppliers being outrageous. If a restaurant is running an average food cost of between 30-35% and is using good baby back ribs, there is really no way to sell them below a certain amount.

I think most customers appreciate the balance between quality products and pricing. They really are not concerned, or should they be, with what drives the pricing. Their focus is on was the meal worth the price. Too often in CR and in other countries the high price does not bring a high quality meal to the table. I believe when most post a review here and the point out that the food was excellent but the restaurant is pricey they are simply telling you if you are concerned about price this restaurant may not be for you. That is why most guide books have a method to show the quality of the restaurant food and and another to show the price level.

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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 think our this thread is getting off track a bit. While all of the posts are interesting - the original poster was asking for a place with great atmosphere that he would enjoy and also impress his chica. I am still looking forward to hearing about more of these places as I am in country 1week per month (and actually get to expense my meals).

Some great options have come up, but I believe there has to be many more and they don't have to be the most formal restaurants.

I will throw a great experience at a restaurant called El Avion (in the mountains just as you are getting to Manuel Anotonio). The center piece of the restaurant is a wrecked US military aircraft (I think a c130) the hull of which is called the Contra Bar (cool idea). This place was all about the atmosphere and the view. The whole place is open air, casual dress, with spectacular views of the ocean and the forrest. Brought my girl there for her Birthday with some friends.

Food, I don't really remember what I had but it was decent and fairly typical for CR. Price - again don't remember but I didn't feel robbed (which I did at Fogo Brasil) after paying the check for 6 people. A cool side benefit was from our table, we could see Sloths and monkeys in the trees.

Hope this pulls us back to the theme of the thread because I know there are some other great places out there.

Peace,

DR

The history of the El Avion aircraft is an interesting one as well as part of the the story of the U.S. covert involvement in the Sandinista/Contra war in Nicaragua.

http://www.costaverde.com/avion01.htm

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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