www.CostaRicaTicas.com

During my trip last week, my buddy and I met a dude (non-CRT) at ZB who recommended this place. Thanks.

It's called "La Esquina de Buenos Aires", located "detras de la iglesia de la Soledad". Located next to a church, no street signs obviously, but the place was very good. In the vicinty of Bar Idem. I know because we walked to Idem (~ 3 blocks) to chill out a few minutes because it was 5:30. They serve lunch and dinner, but the restaurant is closed 3:00-6:00 pm, I think it's siesta or something. My buddy and I ate very well for less than $40 total. I couldn't finish my dish, too much. It was awesome, probably the best beef tenderloin I ever had. Prices were very reasonable also.

I believe this is a relatively new place (opening some time last year). I haven't had the chanceto eat there myself, but do recall TMan(?) telling me it was really good.

For those more geographically challenged the place is EXTREMELY easy to find. The Soledad Church is on GR's Map and is due south of the the Del Rey on the other side of Avenida 2 (the main traffic avenue through downtown). More exactly it is just east of the intersection of Ave. 4 y Calle 9 near a small park and bus station. Ave. 4 sort of splits up on either side of the church so I'm not really sure what the name of the avenue that the restaurant is on either. It is actually on the se corner just south of the backend of the church on Calle 11. That is the same side of the street as Tin Jo and Eros but about 2 blocks closer to the Gulch. I'm going ahead and adding this to the latest map on my website. Actually, I was going to add it before but couldn't remember exactly which corner it was on - Ave 6 or the no-name Ave next to the church.

Argentines really know their steak and this place is much closer to the Gulch than the other popular steak place El Chicote.

Ate at this place last week. Atmosphere is quaint and nice, steak was OK. Service...POOR. I still prefer Donde Carlos which is 3 minutes east of there on Avenida 10 in Los Yoses for steak and service.

YO Beef Buckaroos:

THERE AIN'T, I REPEAT, AIN'T A QUALITY TENDER EXCELLENT TASTING STEAK IN SJ.

It even surpasses the Bigfoot and vampire legends in that country.

Ain't no good tasting real cold milk either...........hmmm, could be a connection.

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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.

I can agree with Circus.....find a good steak???....we are spoiled here in America!

Although I do like skirt steaks and the Del Rey used to cook a decent one, but it was not cheap....it was like paying for "filet mignon" That term is used very loosely in the restaurants in SJO

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GG
"Last time I said no......I misunderstood the question!"

Last milk I had there came out of a can, come to think of it-
maybe that's why I had the shits for 3 days.

Last month VB was raving about a great steak house he'd found somewhere...

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Living well is the best revenge
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MwUtj_YnNoY

Just ate there Friday night.

The pepercorn filet was awsome.

It really is difficult to find a good steak or even a good hamburger in Costa Rica. I have eaten at Donde Carlos 4 times and have NEVER had a decent steak. My favorite steak houses are all in Escazu. (15-20 minutes from the Gultch) They are La Parilla Argentina, Los Anonos,and San Telmo. I have had some excellant steaks in each,but also had very mediocre ones.

VB, I noticed you mentioned another argentinean restaurant in your list.

GG, the reason the steaks at the DR were so good was because they were imported Angus steaks and that was also a large part of why they were so pricey. Well, the fact that it was the DR also had a large part of why they were so overpriced too. From what I understand the new Del Mar restaurant also has good food but at an exorbitant cost.

Anyway, you'd think a country with its own cattle industry (up in the Guanacaste area) would have good steaks but that doesn't seem to be the case. Part of it is that cattle in other countries are raised differently and consequently have a different flavor than what we are used to but CR steak also seems to be consistently a lot tougher than US steaks.

I've also been highly disappointed with the shrimp in CR. I know they export shrimp, but it seems they must export all the good quality stuff.

Personally, most of the time I'm in CR I just stick with the standard roasted chicken rice and beans (probably every other dinner). Its always cheap and you can't go too far wrong there.

When you get down to it, no one comes to CR for the food. I'm sorry, CR has a lot going for it as an eco-tourist, surf, fishing and sex tourist destination to name just a few of its many attractions, but as a culinary destination forget it. Sure you can find some passable meals there, but very few that you would write home about if you had them anywhere else.

SOOOO...if one is going to write a proper review on a restaurant in CR, they should do so from within that crucible - not how it rates compared to the really good places one would find at home but how it rates to whatever your other options are while staying in CR. VB gave us some good comparative alternative options in CR. The only problem is they are all out by his house in Escazu and not near where most of the rest of us stay in the Gulch. Its probably worth the drive for a good steak, but I'd like to know what others think the best option is closer to home. Donde Carlos has gotten 2 polar opposite reviews. This argentinean place has gotten a couple of mixed reviews while others say they have liked it. I'd be curious to hear what VB thinks of this place since he seems to be such a conniseuir (sp?) of fine steak. Is it passable?

I really don't know what it is about Costa Rica that it has such horrible beef. It's neighbor Nicaragua has exceptionally good steaks and their cattlefields in Rivas are within 75 miles of Costa Rica's in Guanacaste. I have heard the arguement that the cattle in Costa Rica is grass fed while what we are used to in the US is corn fed, but wouldn't that logically be the same in Nicaragua? I don't recall ever having a bad steak in Panama either. Maybe it is just prepared better in other countries (churrasco, bistek jalepeño, etc.). I don't know the answer but I typically stay away from the beef and stick to the chicken when I'm in Costa Rica.

I guess steak...like women...has all different tastes and preferences. While it is difficult to find consistency ANYWHERE in this country, there are places more consistent than others. I have a number of people who continually swear along with me that Donde Carlos is the best. Others swear they have never had a good steak there. I give. I dont try and set people up with women...or steaks...anymore . In general, most of the Argentinian steak places here have the best meat. Other than that...good luck.

Tman,

I want to thank you again for turning me on to Faro's back in January. Their filet for approximately $5 with all the trimmings was excellent. I, in turn took some guys there also.
Maybe not the best filet I've ever had, but more than adequate.

Pax
Sluthog

Anybody eat at the White House in Escazu?, their website says they have USDA certified angus beef.

I will check this place out in July! Ill give a full report.

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GG
"Last time I said no......I misunderstood the question!"

I have never eaten at the White House in Escazu,but I am told that it is very good.The beef is imported from the States.The restaurant is owned by the Capital Grill group from the States which is a fantastic group of restaurants.The problem,as I am told is it is VERY EXPENSIVE especially in CR standards. A steak dinner for two with a couple of glasses of wine runs in the $150-180 range for a couple. For inexpensive and very good beef,I recommend Costa Del Sol in the Gultch.They have a tenderloin cooked in Garlic and oil on the menu which is really wonderful.It is served with roasted potatoes for around $10 with a beer. They also accept the VIP card from CRT