www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Last night I was hanging at the bar and saw a guy eating a steak dinner. The presentation was great and it look awesome. I usually don't care about the kind of stuff. I like my food hot, piled high, and cheap. I asked what it was and it was an off the menu meal. I sat and talked to Matt for awhile and decide to wait a little before while ordering. I went back up stairs did some work until I felt the hunger hit.

Matt was still at the bar drinking and I asked the barmaid for the same dinner and she pulls out the menu to look for it. Matt told her it was not on the menu and walked over to the kitchen and order it for me. While I was waiting and talking to Matt and another guy came down to the bar. We have met before and hung out a few times. My meal comes and he is like WOW. That looks great. Mash potatoes, seasoned cooked veggies on top of the potatoes and a filet sitting on top with grill onion gravy sauce. I cut into the meat and take a bite. WOW, it was the best steak I have had in the last 6 months. The guy sitting next to me ask if it was the special of the day and he wanted one. Matt yells out, "It is the special of the day now", and walks over and orders another one for the guy. I finish my meal when the other meal comes out for my friend. He digs in and agrees that it was the best meal he has had in Costa Rica. You can't beat the price, I think it was around 5500 C. Worth every C.

I was full but we started to talk about plantains and how I love tostones. I did not see it on the menu but I really could eat a few right now. Again, Matt yells out, "I will take care of it". A few minutes later I have big plate of tostones sitting in front of me. I start to think to myself that Matt might be a genie and I just made the 2 best wishes of day. Really the food was great!!

Other things I have noticed is the Amistad has the coldest beer in town. When they give it to you frost starts appearing quickly.

I will say this much, I think the breakfast at the SL is better but you can't beat the price at the Amistad. Free, Free, Free. The breakfast at the SL is really good and I have passed up free for the SL. This is not a knock on the Amistad breakfast. The Amistad breakfast is solid and like I said it is free. You won't be disappointed in the breakfast but the SL is better. Well, it is free if you are staying at the Amistad.

On a side note, Jennifer (the barmaid) was there with her little baby. Every customer that came into the bar was looking at it and the first thing they would do is look at Matt and ask if it was his. By the 6th or 7th time Matt started to get worked up about it. To be fair, Matt took it in good stride and was laughing by the 10th time. I really don't know Matt, but he seems like a good guy.

I saw the other thread about lunch and was going to start one but someone beat me to it. I will give my 2C there.

I've had steak there and it is very good and reasonably priced. Did this off the menu meal have a name? Thanks for the heads up on tostones. I don't like plantains, but I had those once and loved them. Never could remember what they were called though.

I will be arriving at the Amistad on Tuesday and this being my first time there I am stoked to try some of these meals.. as well as the awesome hospitality these folks have been raving about. Def looking forward to actually meeting Matt, Carlos, Rodolpho, Marlena et al. Hasta Martes!!

I don't know the name of the meal, Matt order it for me. I think it will be the special of the day really soon the way people are going for it. just describe it the way I did and I am sure they will get it for you.

The tostones were really good.

I think you will be please at the Amistad. People keep staying the Train is annoying in the morning but I have not noticed it. I am thinking about waking up early just to see if it is true. The water pressure is great in the shower. The AC gets really cold. I had to turn it off the other night because it got so cold. I like it really cold but this was like arctic polar cold. The bed is good. overall not the best place I have ever stayed and not the worst. The staff has been great. The free breakfast is solid, I just keep sleeping through it and I keep missing it.

the beds there are better than good imo.
i had slipped on a wet floor and landed on my tail bone last trip so i left my apartment just to recuperate on those memory foamers.
have always liked the food at amistad as well. will have to try that steak.
and yes matt is a magician. also an adroit pick pocket so be careful.

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im way deep into nothing special
riding the crest of a wave breaking just west of hollywood

Matt is a solid guy, runs a great hotel. Just don't piss him off. (kidding)

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" Omit no happy hour that may give furtherance to our expedition."

Matt is the only guy I ever Matt that is suppossed to act the way he does, fits him perfectly. If he was a total nice guy it would not work!

Will have to go over and check it out. People don't talk about the food here so much so haven't given it much thought. After almost a year living in the city, I'm really missing fish. About to set up a regular tuna connection and want to find a restaurant close that can cook it for me. Maybe workout a deal where they get good fresh tuna and I get to eat....

If you are in the Mercado Centro area, this place gets good reviews: http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_R ... _Jose.html
Also won't Soda Peru accommodate you with your fish?

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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

Haven't been to Soda Peru yet and am anxious to try it out. I keep saying that but I really eat at home a lot. I am sure the ceviche is good and they probably do the white types of fish well, but nobody seems to do the tuna steaks here in the city. God I miss ordering those thick slabs of tuna barely seared!

The last time I ate at Soda Peru (3 years ago), tuna was not on the menu. Maybe Little Havana has added that to their menu along with the "Pholly" cheesesteak.

BTW, the best "free" breakfast I ever had in the gulch was at Hotel La Amistad.

There is a restaurant in El Pueblo that does tuna very well. I forget the name, but it's on the right just as you walk in the entrance off the parking lot. They close @10:00, before El Pueblo gets thugged out lol.

I stopped in and ate at Soda Peru on my first trip during Pop's tour and left feeling full.

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Yep, I was taken there also on a Vegan Pops tour.

Highly recommended!

1 month ago i visited that place it was a superb experience being over there.