www.CostaRicaTicas.com

I second that emotion... or a 458 either. He'd need the 458 for trips to the beach.
http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=htt ... CC0Q9QEwAQ
http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=htt ... CDYQ9QEwBQ

_________________
"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

A short article for budget lunches in SJ from Rico at daily e-paper Qcostarica.com, a gent known to alot of members.

http://qcostarica.com/edition/2013/10/1 ... osta-rica/

My two favorite places close to the gulch (or really in the culch) are:

ABC soda on central across the street from the San Pedro Bus stop. This is a block down the hill from the REY and half a block to the left (east). c2800 for a casado with your choise of about 8 different meat/fish/chicken items and includes a natural or tea drink. Always more food than I can eat. As with most (all) Tico restaurants, don't try to substitute or even leave an item off--it will no longer be the casado special and will cost you much more. And the owner's 28 yo Nica wife is not bad to look at while eating.

2nd AVE Restaurant and Bar. Located on the north side of 2nd Ave. between C7 and C5. This is 2 blocks down from the REY and a block and a 1/2 west (to the right. Not a really cheap place to eat if you order from the menu, but they have a daily lunch special and their casado is only c2500 at lunch (till 4pm). and includes a natural and a small desert. Very good food and great atmosphere. Set at a table on the front right next to the sidewalk where a lot of chicas walk by!!! Also a great place and great food at dinner, but not cheap. Other potential problem is "gringo pricing" I have never experienced this but know a couple of guys who did. Hell they were even with me when it happened and--they got charged additional for tax and tip (both were suppose to be included in the price) and I didn't!??? I know I am a regular but this is a bunch of crap. Went back later and talked to the manager- He tried to blame it on the waiter thinking he could get away with it with a couple of gringos who did not know better. Have not heard of it happening in a while.

_________________
Old and retired but still bang, and bang, and bang!!!

Guess they figured, why bother; you were not going to tip anyway Oh, and I'm glad they tried to Phuck over your friends and were stopped from doing so. I also am dubious of the managers/owners explanation.

Seriously, this is the kind of good info the board needs more of -

Today, we all had wings from Harry's Poas. Really good and $3.80!

Probably one of the best for typical Tico food and atmosphere; and one of my favorite places and the favorite of many other mongers (Don Gordo use to rave about this place) is San Cristobal in the Central Market-it is actually 4 small restaurants bunched together towards the south side in the middle from east to west. Walking down Central when you get to the market at the corner of central and calle 6, keep walking till you get to about the middle of the block. There you will find a small entrance to the market, enter, go about 25-30 feet to the first isle, turn left and about 30 ft down you will see the San Cristobal restaurant. Not the cheapest place but very good typical Tico food and a large selection. Casado with a small desert (included) and a drink will run about c4000. For me the main attraction is their guanabana con leche--it is almost like a milkshake. I love the flavor of quanabana and it is one of the best fruit drinks there is for your health (a proven cancer inhibitor). I actually drink it everyday at home.

_________________
Old and retired but still bang, and bang, and bang!!!

BB57's mention, guanabana, is grown world-wide in the tropics. It may be a cancer inhibitor but it is NOT a cure: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soursop

_________________
"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

First I did not say it was a cancer cure, I said it is a proven cancer inhibitor. The last paragraph of the Wikipedia source you listed is typical of and shows just how controlled certain segments of the US government is by big business. A certain major pharmaceutical company spent several years trying to duplicate the chemical in guanabana that is known to help prevent cancer. After years, and many millions of dollars of trying without success, they gave up and in order to recoup their loss they put a less effective product on the market. Even though many reputable researchers had found that it did, they announced to the world that guanabana did not inhibit nor prevent cancer and that their product they were now marketing did, There is no evidence that shows there product really helps. And even though their own research years earlier had shown guanabana DID help prevent cancer, they declared that guanabana was of no benefit. $$$$$$$$

_________________
Old and retired but still bang, and bang, and bang!!!

She will also keep an eye out for thieves trying to steal her customers' property.

Beauty and crime deterrence in one Nica package!

_________________
bypassin' kinky, and usin' the whole chicken!!!

As for Soda Peru, I went there this week to get lunch for one of the bartenders at ZonaII. She gave me a list of two things to get - one was shrimp with vegetables and fries; I don't know what the other one was, but it was in a cup, not like a complete lunch. The cost was 9400 colones ($19). I classify that as expensive.

Hit the food court in Mall San Pedro. Lots of options on 3 floors. There is a place in the middle that does a shaved green papaya with chili that is off the charts good. My favorite place there though is La Azteca if I recall correctly. Since it is the mall there is always plenty to look at. Sometimes you even see faces working behind the counters at the stores, that you might remember from the Rey......

Maybe wandering from the "budget" end of things, but I have repeatedly gone to the Mexican restaurant across the road from Mall San Pedro called "Los Antojitos" and been more than happily satisfied with quality and service. Real good place. Can't remember the damage but it was not outrageously expensive or cheap.

+1 about Los Antojitos.

I went there with a chica for dinner. Decent food at decent prices.

But the place was empty at "prime time." Maybe it was an off-day for them, but I wonder how they pay the light bill.

Funny thing - it was a non-pro chica who introduced me to the place!

Coincidental funny thing - it was a non-pro chica who I took to the place !

It turned out to be a waste of my mongering time, but it was a nice dinner with her for a decent price.