www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Last night, I went there with 2 other people. The food and service was top notch, as usual. I have only had 2 bad steaks in about 25 visits. We all the same entree (Lomito Porcini-tenderloin in creamy mushroom sauce).

In another thread, somebody wrote that you can get 3 steak dinners and a bottle of wine for $100.

Not so much anymore, especially if you get wine other than house wine.

First, the prices have gone up considerably since I was last there in February. I first noticed with the appetizers that I usually get. They were between 4500-5000 the last time (February). Now, the Salmon is about 5800 and the garlic shrimp 6200. That's a huge increase in 6 months. The steaks went up about 1500, from about 9400 to 10900. I've been trying to go there every trip. It has always been about $60-65 for 2 people. The bill last night was ¢57,000 ($114) for 3, that $38/person. We had 3 appetizers, 3 steaks, and a small bottle of house wine (which is pretty good btw).

Second, according to the waiter, as of about a month ago, they are no longer honoring the 10% CRT discount. I will verify this with Admin to see if they really cut ties or they are full of shit. That could've saved us $15 (with the savings in taxes 23%).

Great review Orange. Couldn't afford to go there regularly, but don't mind the price for an occasional treat. I don't trust a "cheap" steak in Costa Rica.

I ate there last Sat and also got the "we don't honor CRT anymore"..

This was the only steakhouse that gave a CRT discount.

Did the restaurant in the Don Carlos Hotel in Los Yoses drop the CRT discount?

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Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
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Alex Levine

I'm not sure there is a best steakhouse The beef you eat today was killed yesterday! Ticos have no concept of aging beef.

The best that I've had recently (and it was very good) was at Doris' Metropolitan in Santa Ana. Nice wine list as well.

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Voted San Jose's #1 Maripepino

Been to Buenos Aries many times. This place is ok but does not quite make it.

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I am NOT a Cien Boy!!

Gentlemen: I have reached out to the ownership to check on the status of the discount. I have not been notified of this and will report back ASAP
Thank you.

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Thank you for supporting CRT!

I was there twice in early August and 2 different waiters refused my CRT card for the discount.

The best overall restaurant in San Jose. I always love going there with friends or for special ocassions. The service is first class and the food is very good. It is not a cheap place to eat, but very good value for the money. Always number one on my list.

I went there twice during the past 4th of July week. No CRT discount. Ordered the N.Y. Strip both times. They served me a Rib eye the first time by mistake. I ate it anyway. It was very good. The N.Y. Strip was excellent. My ex wife said......They import beef from New York? ...Now you guys know why I'm divorced.

The Garlic Shrimp.......my FAVORITE there.....I would go there for that alone.

Seems like a DOPEY move by the management of the restaurant to no longer offer the 10% discount. I believe the vast majority of reviews on CRT regarding La Esquina have been favorable. You would think that offering a 10% discount would be a small price to pay given the amount of FREE advertising and exposure they get (mostly all positive) from the CRT boards and members. Maybe business is booming though and they figure they don't need the publicity....

I spoke to Don Javier Owner of La Esquina and after 6 years they have requested to be removed from our pages as a sponsor. This was actually due to some local journalist a few months ago going into his restaurant on several occasions looking for quotes etc as to why a local established business would support CRT. Imagine that someone trying to make trouble UnX*X(*X(X* believable. Anyway he apologizes for the mis-communication and lack of contact to us but they have removed sponsorship and discounts.

Thanks for understanding. I will work on replacing this location with another.

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Thank you for supporting CRT!

Thanks for the follow up -

I'm not going to make "threats" b/c on occasion I do eat there, mostly for convenience of location (Frankly, Donde Carlos and La Cascada are better - DC is a CRT sponsor).

I subscribe to both the Miami Herald and The SunSentinel, and agree w/ their respective editorial positions, oh, about 20% of the time

What he should have done was tell the "journalist" (so called ) that he is in business and advertising into the market served by CRT drives business to his establishment - you don't need to agree with the editorial policy of a magazine, or a newspaper, if it reaches your target market - and most importantly - drives business your way, which CRT did, obviously, for 6 years.

The lack of contact w/ you is inexcusable, rude to CRT members and not the way to end what had been a good relationship - real classless on his part, and giving in to some jerk off, well, what else can be said.

PS To my fellow CRTers - all your "protestations" are not going to put this place out of business; after all at the end of the day, the majority of his cliental are not visitors (not the same mix as say the Dunn Inn for example) - be pissed at the situation, and especially the way the owner handled it, but the place is unlikely to go out of business b/c CRTers boycott the place - otherwise, he would not have ended the relationship over some jagg off's questions .