www.CostaRicaTicas.com

On my last trip a few weeks ago I ate at Cafe Mundo twice (first times since they closed a few years back due to health violations). The ambiance is very nice, particularly if you are with a chica. I sat on the porch the first time and then in the main room right next to the big window that looks out on the porch.

First night I had the so called "filet mignon." I should know better than to eat steak in Costa Rica, but I thought that CM was a "better" restaurant and would have decent steak. Wrong. Very tough. No flavor. If it was a filet, it was a filet cut in half (like you'd slide a hamburger bun). Would not recommend steak here, although I do like the steak at the La Esquinas. I did, however, enjoy the Bavarian chocolate dessert, once again.

Second night I was with a chica. We had the sangria, which was excellent and a mushroom appetizer that was very good. We both ordered fish. I was a little hesitant. I'm from Florida and know good, fresh seafood and I am always a bit worried ordering seafood at an in-land restaurant. But I wasn't going to get steak again and I didn't want chicken or pasta, so I tried the sea bass. I must say that the portion was generous and the fish was very good. My friend had the salmon and she said it was good as well. No room for dessert, but we had a very pleasant evening at CM.

"If it was a filet, it was a filet cut in half (like you'd slide a hamburger bun). "

Wow. A half portion of a half bad steak. Too funny but not.

Earl Montoya "Duke of Earl" warned me about that place a month before it got busted. The word was out in Tico land, that's how many locals (and others of course) were getting sick.

The worst part is after it got busted the owner was quoted in several papers as saying it was a virus that was going around town and people were out to get him and he'd seen no proof. Then the proof came.

It had a strong Tico customer base, and not the hoi polloi. Not sure anymore, the letters to the editors after his response were not nice.

I went once when it was new on the scene and I had issues about the place but they are not politically correct so I won't get into that.

There is no good steak in CR. Trust me. a number of my amigo friends have taken me to places but no cigar. CR is one of the worst places for steaks.

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Damn if I'm going to repeat this shit again. I need a drink.
I've been drinking vodka every day for 45 years and I have certainly never found it to be habit forming.

Amen; you are 100% correct - there are some places that serve OK steaks, but not what we can get at a steakhouse in the USA - plus, the steakhouses in Costa Rice - especially San Jose - are not cheap.

Scuba take a run up to this place in Cartago "La Casona de Cartago" I posted a thread on it earlier, they carry USDA Prime steaks from the USA. Yes it is about a 30 minute run from the Gulch but I was impressed.

Thank you - I'll try it

My main issue with so many of the places is they charge American prices, or close (and to pay a lot for a meal and get food poisioning is just beyond the pale ).

The best overall food and value I've found is Il Returno - really like that place; also like Soda Peru for lunch.

I always hit Soda Peru when I am in town but have never tried II Returno but I will put it on my to do list for next trip. If you head to Cartago the tomato soup was very good, probably 2nd best I have ever had. The grill set up is just inside on the left when you enter so you can see everything being prepared.

I can understand a lot of people posting that there are no good steaks in Costa Rica, but it is not true.

However, you do have to hunt them down, and if the cook does not understand what you want, you may have to explain it in detail. I have definitely had good to very good quality steaks in Costa Rica, San Jose in particular.

I have had good meat at La Esquina, as well as Fogo Brazil. Unfortunately Fogo Brazil is very expensive -- going for lunch instead of dinner can keep costs down. Basically, you are steering clear of Costa Rican beef, and going with the imports.

Don Fernando is a small, high-end butcher shop and restaurant chain in Costa Rica. The manager claimed that the beef is Costa Rican beef but raised more like the beef you see in the USA, Brazil, Argentina. I have had some good steaks there. One time a friend of mine that knows quite a bit about meat went with me to Don Fernando, and asked to choose our steaks. The waiter brought out a few raw cuts on a big tray, and my friend was looking and going "no, no, hmmm... no, ah... these two". Two gorgeous filets, although I wouldn't know how "pretty" relates to good meat, not my area. He then explained for about 30 seconds how they were to be cooked. Often a Costa Rican waiter will start looking at you like you are crazy, because generally they don't cook beef the way a guy from the USA would like it. 15 minutes later, I'm having about an 8.5 filet on my scale of 1 - 10.

I also, quite some time ago, before the cook was changed, had a good filet at the Mona Lisa. There was a daily special that was something like 8K for a small filet and a side or two, and tea or water. Something like that -- don't quote me on price and sides or drinks. The waiter spoke good English and I asked if it was Brazilian, Argentinian, or Costa Rican beef. Now, I couldn't tell you what it is by looking, I was simply looking for answer 1 or 2, NOT 3.
"Nice and thick?" -- "Yes sir."
"OK, I would like it cooked rare to medium rare. I mean 54 degrees right in the middle, if it goes above 57, it's ruined. Does your cook have a meat thermometer, and does he know the proper heat level for cooking a filet? Does he understand how to rest meat after cooking?"
"Yes sir, he knows how to cook western style very well."

A short time later -- an excellent, perfectly colored small filet that I could almost cut with a fork, probably about 3 or 3.5 centimeters high on the plate. When the waiter brought out the little caddy with the steak sauces in it, I kind of gave him that "WTF" look, head tilted sideways with a small frown. Then we both busted out laughing.

I tipped them both generously and thanked them both. The next time I went in, I couldn't find the waiter or the chef, and didn't want to press my luck.

Actually my favorite restaurant in Costa Rica, (so far) is Fogo Brazil, for what you get it isn't unreasonably pricy. $40 for all you can eat, plus drinks of course, I love the kiwi drink they make. There is a buffet with several kinds of soup, a very well stocked salad bar and a vegie buffet with everything from black beans and rice to mashed potatoes, asparagus and broccoli. Then there is a sushi bar, which could cost half the price of the meal in many places. Then when you are all set, the waiters start bringing the meat. They have lamb, pork, ribs, chicken, several kinds of steak, and even chicken hearts. All brought to your table on skewers that they were cooked on over open flame. They slice what you want onto your plate and move on but they keep coming. There is a green disc next to your plate, when you turn it over to the red side they stop and the desert cart arrives. The flavor and tenderness of all the beef was very good. I paid $38 each for a couple of jumbo shrimp meals at cafe mundo last month and we got 5 shrimp each, so $40 seems good once in a while. Of course the La Amistad pork chop could qualify as an all you can eat meal, at least for me. I tried again last Saturday but I just couldn't eat it all.

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My English teacher said "I before E except after C". Then she told me to go to science class!

Here's more on La Casona de Cartago and Don Fernando (it's mainly a butcher shop w/restaurant):
http://www.lacasonadecartago.com/restaurante.htm
http://carnesdonfernando.com/main.cfm

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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

in my experience travelling to latin America, the term 'fliet mignon' is a generic term for beef steak. It does not imply any specific cut. This is especially true in brazil, where a businessman's dinner is a filet mignon (flat cut of beef) , french fries and scotch.
so when ordering filet mignon don't expect the short fat cuts that we get here in usa....just FYI.

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Life is too short for lite beer.

I agree with Il Riturno......great spot for Italian and they are happy to see you bring in girls. Absolutly no issue, in fact they treat the girls like royalty.

In addition right now if you pay with American Express you get 20% off the bill. Pretty slick deal.

soda Peru is also my fav for lunch

La Esquina de Buenos Aires was not a good experience for me. I have been to Buenos Aires many times and it doesn't even come close. Kind of like going to Arizona for a Chicago hot dog. A waste of $50.00 for me and the little slut I took. I didn't even finish the food. Fago is no bargain either. They don't give you a steak, they give you "slices" of meat. I will say they do have a good salad bar to cover up all the dificiencies. A chain restaurant owned by a guy from Thailand. You want steak? Go to Buenos Aires.

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I am NOT a Cien Boy!!

The food is not off the hook compared to USA, but they always treat your date with respect.

By the way, $50 is too much for dinner and drinks for 2?

The Brahman type cattle they raise in the Costa Rica because they are able to cope with the high humidity/ temperatures, parasites are not known for the quality of the beef they produce because they have a tendency to lack a gene that allows their meat to tenderize from aging after slaughter. That's why all USDA premium beef programs (CAB, 1855, Sterling Silver,etc) exclude shoulder humps in excess of 2 inches and floppy ears.