www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Saint Telmos, at the Paco Shopping Center in Escazú.

Just received and email from a very good friend of mine who resides in Costa Rica.. He is reccomending this place highly though I have never been. I without question trust his judgement and will be checking the place out upon my return to Costa Rica Next week.

Argentinean steak house, superb product, priced same as Churrascos.

I will provide a full review in the coming weeks, but if anyone is heard of this place with 1st hand knowledge, it would be appreciated.

This is a belated response to the request by the CRT reviewer for information on this restaurant.

I visit Costa Rica roughly every 6 weeks or so (still trying to get my CR wife into the US!) and I’m always looking for a different restaurant that I will enjoy. Fine food is also a sensual pleasure, made more enjoyable by sharing with the one you will choose to share your bed with. I believe the correct name for this restaurant is “The San Telmo”, a churrasco-style Argentinian restaurant. It is in the “Volvo Plaza” in Escazu, the same plaza where you can find the Inka Grill, that has been reviewed in this section previously.

Gentlemen, this restaurant is seriously romantic with subdued lighting, linen tablecloths, and beautiful brick walls and wood-beam ceilings. Visually, it is equivalent to one of your best dining experiences in the US. And, the menu is also. Very high quality Argentinian cuisine with the most flavorful and tender steak anywhere. Pasta, chicken dishes and fish for those who want something other than steak. Very prompt service, relatively quiet and romantic atmosphere, fantastic wine and adult beverage menu.

I had several appetizers to sample, as tapas. Each was superb, particularly the steak tapas. A delicious garlic bread with zingy tapenades are placed at your table gratis before you order---a nice touch. My wife had a fish dish that I thought was OK, but not inspired. This is the place to order steak or something more adventurous. A very nice margarita made it all go down so well. Frangellica with a sweet sherbert desert to finish the meal. All in all, a delight to discover such a high-quality restaurant, although one can understand why this type of restaurant is in Escazu, rather than, say the gulch.

My cost, for my wife and myself, 4 appetizers, 1 entrée, 3 drinks, and a dessert: the equivalent of about $40. Not cheap by Costa Rican standards for a fine dinner, but probably at least 50 to 100% less than what you would pay in the US. I will be back, and the reason is certainly not it’s convenience to Parque Sabanna where I now stay. If you are looking for great steak entrees, a very romantic and pleasant dining experience, and a superb cocktail menu---you should visit The San Telmo. Let me know how you like it. Perhaps our able CRT Administrator can visit and consider negotiating a discount for my next visit as a CRT VIP member. Enjoy.

Hey DanL,

Is the San Telmo in Escazu the kind of Argentine Churrasco where you can order buffet and the Pasodores walk around with sizzling cuts of meats on skewers and ask you if you want a chunk? You get a card to put on your table – one side say’s “Si” if you want more meat, the other side say “no gracias”.

I just ask because I recently went to one like I described in Vancouver BC. I was crazy about it and have not seen anything like that before. My dinner solo was about what you said yours was por dos at San Telmo, so looks like a OK value. Argentina does do meat, no doubt.

Thanks Pura Vida,

Yes...they do have the Argentinian/Brazilian-style churrasco steaks...on skewers there. Don't know about the Si/No cards though...

There is a large brick oven and grill, open to the dining room, on your left just as you walk into the restaurant. You waiter asks you if you wish the churrasco-style dinner before you order.

A very pleasant dining experience with a full complement of cocktails available. Strangely, they don't have Argentinian Beer (Quilms) available; the waiter said something about its high cost in CR. Perhaps the government of CR is protecting its local market for "Imperial" by imposing stiff import duties.