www.CostaRicaTicas.com

The Tico way does not encourage one to go into business and play by the rules..

The restaurant started to go downhill ever since Harley left to run the restaurant at the Balmoral across the avenue. I can't help wondering if part of the problem is that the Eco-tourist eat LEAVES. The Clarion and the Presidente must have worked hard at failing.

Big issue for all bars/restaurants. If included in Caja it is actually about 36% witholding to cover all payroll related benefits. so if a small bar did $20,000 a month it would mean $7,200 in additional expense to the owners.

_________________
BKTUNA/Boyd
I am never going home

I believe you added an extra zero Boyd. If a bar or restaurant sells $20,000 of beer and food a month, only $2,000 of that (or the 10% propina for the employees) would now be taxed at the 36%. The net effect is roughly $720 in extra taxes owed to the caja. (or 3.6% of the total bill).

Basically the court ruled that every bar and restaurant must now raise their prices 5% and hope sales do not go down in order to clear the new form of taxation imposed by the court and not the legislature. I do not claim to understand the law here, but I do not see how a court can impose new taxes and that be allowed to stand.

If over regulation caused the their demise then it will only be a short time before there are no restaurants in Costa Rica.

I believe part of their problem was caused by the opening of the Balmoral Patio restaurant. They took the News Cafe unique advantage of being able to have a seat overlooking the pedestrian traffic on avenida central and enlarged it by 3 or 4 fold.

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

Word on the street is that Hartley did not leave voluntarily. He reportedly was going to go to the Balmoral but I do not believe he ever wound up there but next turned up at the Del Mar for a short stint.

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

Funny how time changes attitudes. I posted a negative comment on the Presidente years back and thought I was going to be strung up. haha

The first time I came to CR they were remodeling the News Cafe. That was five years ago and they remodeled it twice more before finally fixing it until it broke. It used to be that you could sit comfortably in the alcove next to the street but they made the wall thicker, removing leg room, until it wasn't comfortable at all. Perfect! We changed breakfast spots to the Patio at Balmoral. across the street.

The latest is just throwing dirt on the corpse. Its been over for Presidente for some time now.

_________________
"Your love gives me such a thrill
but your love don't pay my bills,
I NEED THE MONEY!" - John Lee Hooker

Disclaimer: The above is merely the opinion of the author unless specific scientific data is included.
Your mileage may vary. https://costaricaticas.com/phpBB2/viewto ... 978#206978

Andrea (and Carlos) will be working at El Patio starting next week.

_________________
It's faster horses, younger women, older whiskey, and more money--Tom T. Hall
No man is a failure who is enjoying life--William Faulkner

I've never tried the el patio....is it good...what do you recommend?

Can't recommend anything in particular but here's the Website:
http://www.elpatiodelbalmoral.com/

_________________
"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

Actually, their pizza is not bad - lots better places for food - plus, they allow cigaretts but ban cigars, so for me the place is a non starter - realize others may feel differently.