San Jose - Restaurant Recommendations

[LatinaLover#1]

Anyone know if the one located by Paseo Colon where the KFC is located, is still open for buss.? I was there a couple of months ago, and it was shut down. Thanks!

This is about 5 years too late but the answer is yes!

[UsGrant]

For cheap! At the Key Largo about 7-7:30pm they bring out some food for $7.50! They have, depending on the night, pork chops, chicken or fish, rice beans and a salad! When we went they had white marlin!

[Bkgee]

I had the pleasure of trying the pork chop lunch everyone has been raving about at the La Amistad yesterday. I have seen post from guys staying there but had not tried it myself. My expectations was high. I was not to be disappointed. I never believe the piece of meat was so huge. Smother with a mushroom gravy it was a real delight. I ordered the mash potatos with it and a green salad. I'm a big guy but for some reason, I could no finish it all. What a meal. For those who are staying there all inclusive, you got to try this. If you are not staying there and you are in the San Jose area, stop by. It's a great deal.

O. L. D.

One Lucky Dogg Tours Travel & Transport.

http://oneluckydogg.com

There something going on at S. L. On Saturday, and La Amistad on Sunday, Also Hotel little Havana, all next weekend, I will be in town with the boys. I want to hit La amistad for that pork Chop dinner, to see you around.

[One Lucky Dogg]

If you have a huge appetite and you are looking for something a little different, might want to try Porky's Bar B Q in Lendora, Santa Ana, just outside of San Jose. Great humongous burger, ribs and Huey's buffalo wings. Ask for it by name. Get 15% off when paying by cash and 10% off via see. See. With you O. L. D. VIP discount card. 2282-5057 is the number.

[One Lucky Dogg]

I had the pleasure of trying the pork chop lunch everyone has been raving about at the La Amistad yesterday. I have seen post from guys staying there but had not tried it myself. My expectations was high. I was not to be disappointed. I never believe the piece of meat was so huge. Smother with a mushroom gravy it was a real delight. I ordered the mash potatos with it and a green salad. I'm a big guy but for some reason, I could no finish it all. What a meal. For those who are staying there all inclusive, you got to try this. If you are not staying there and you are in the San Jose area, stop by. It's a great deal.

O. L. D.

One Lucky Dogg Tours Travel & Transport.

http://oneluckydogg.com

[BananaBoat]

I love Soda Peru for lunch time. Good portion, fair price, and tasty. HLH has a very good selection of good too. I heard they added some stuff like burrito. Can anyone confirm? Dunn Inn is hit and miss for me. Unfortunate that they have a good setup, but the food is inconsistent. Mona Lisa? Bad. They need a new cook. How can they screw up casado? Chicken was so tough. I had hard te cutting with a knife. Colombian place around the corner from Soda Peru is decent for breakfast and lunch. Cheap too.

[One Lucky Dogg]

Cafe Mundo is just a 1-2 minute walk from the Sportsmens Lodge. Take a right as you exit the Lodge and head left up the hill for a short block on Avenida 9. Cafe Mundo is on the left, on the corner of Avenida 9 and Calle 15.

+1

Let me just say that Bill at the Sportsman's has good food as well. The prices are right and the food is good. Try the BLT or the Beef Burrito. There daily Casado is good too. Includes rice, beans, salad and choice of chicken, bistake or pork chop for around $6. I usually get the port chop. You know how doggs like bones.

[True Sportsman]

Truly a nice place to eat, with a varied menu and a very pleasant vibe. I like to eat afuera in either the front or back patio sections. My favorites are the whole wheat seafood spaghetti and the anchovy, artichoke and black olive pizza. The coffee is strong and fabulous, the best I've had in CR, and the dessert menu is excellent as well. A great place to take a lady.

Cafe Mundo is just a 1-2 minute walk from the Sportsmens Lodge. Take a right as you exit the Lodge and head left up the hill for a short block on Avenida 9. Cafe Mundo is on the left, on the corner of Avenida 9 and Calle 15.

+1

[The Dirty Pirate]

Stay away from fogo brazil. 75 dollars a person not including tips. Great food but not at these prices.

They run half price specials all the time, it's the only time one should go. Be prepared to eat the saltiest meat ever as well.

[UsGrant]

Stay away from fogo brazil. 75 dollars a person not including tips. Great food but not at these prices.

[Qncterra]

The best ceviche that I've had anywhere. Its about 10-15 minutes from downtown in Sabana or a little further in Moravia. My all time favorite is the whole sea bass, without bones. It was surprisingly half empty last Saturday night, and prices have gone up a bit, which may play a role, as well.

[Zedman99]

La Esquina has the best steak I've ever had in my life, I just posted about it in the Reports section.

The steaks there cost from 16-20 $ which is at least 50% less than a similar (yet not as good IMO) steak would cost in the uS.

The carpaccio was great as well, and this is coming from someone who lived in Italy for almost 5 yrs.

Esquina is a must go!

Always go at least twice during my stay-Tin Ho down the block is also excellent for oriental cuisine.

[Gringo7900]

15 minutes by taxi from the Gulch in a nice area. Good beef, chicken dishes. Pricey at $20 per person but a very good place. Very nice place with good service.

The is the beef, near the New statium in Sabana.

[CherchezFemme]

La Esquina has the best steak Ive ever had in my life, I just posted about it in the Reports section.

The steaks there cost from 16-20 $ which is at least 50% less than a similar (yet not as good IMO) steak would cost in the uS.

The carpaccio was great as well, and this is coming from someone who lived in Italy for almost 5 yrs

Esquina is a must go!

Visited SJO a dozen times last year. My little buddy & I usually hit La Esquina de Buenos Aires first, though our favorite waiter Marco has returned to Colombia. It's easy walking distance from the Centro area (Calle 11) though after dark my friend much prefers a taxi ("it's San Jose!"). For taxi directions it's just north of Tin Ho or Bar Idem. All taxi drivers will know where one of those three is located.

We also hit the Hotel Costa Rica, just across from the Teatro, also easy walking distance & pretty safe even at night. The Corvina de Ajo is very good. (Ave Central/Ave Segundo @ Calle 3)

We usually hit the Hotel Grano de Oro in the Paseo Colon area as well. You'll need a taxi for that one but it's usually only about C2,000. Again, the Corvina is excellent.

The Balcon de Marisco in the Curridibad area is simple but good food. Expect a C5,000 taxi ride outbound M-F because of traffic and half that for the return. Lobster is good as is the Corvina.

After the issues at the Princess Marina restaurants my friend has no interest in returning, though it wouldn't bother me a bit. There are several in town & I believe they have all reopened (after having sickened hundreds...). Similar to El Balcon de Marisco these are simple affairs with good sea food.

Finally, Jurgens near the Mall San Pedro is very good. It's a German restaurant & the pricing is about the same - maybe a little less - that the two hotels. If the taxi driver doesn't know where it is, have him turn left at the Suburu dealer on the was to the mall, then left again (I believe). It's easy walking distance from the Suburu though I wouldn't recommend it at night.

The French restaurant (Hotel Belvedere?) and the Italian restaurant (in the Italian building) were, to us, simply okay and not really worth a return. the French restaurant was a little too pricey in my opinion.

Any other suggestions for **fine** dining in the Centro area? Nuestra Terra on Avenida Segundo was - to me - over priced & we'll likely not return.

Oh...if you're a Starbucks fan the Caffe Lattes at the Spoon restaurants (Ave Central just a few hundred feet West of Hotel Presidente, opposite side & in the Mall San Pedro, 2nd floor I believe) are a good substitute for the Starbucks Frappucinos and is usually all I have for lunch while my gal gets lasagna or a sandwich.

Dan D.

[Dan D Dick]

Visited SJO a dozen times last year. My little buddy & I usually hit La Esquina de Buenos Aires first, though our favorite waiter Marco has returned to Colombia. It's easy walking distance from the Centro area (Calle 11) though after dark my friend much prefers a taxi ("it's San Jose!"). For taxi directions it's just north of Tin Ho or Bar Idem. All taxi drivers will know where one of those three is located.

We also hit the Hotel Costa Rica, just across from the Teatro, also easy walking distance & pretty safe even at night. The Corvina de Ajo is very good. (Ave Central/Ave Segundo @ Calle 3)

We usually hit the Hotel Grano de Oro in the Paseo Colon area as well. You'll need a taxi for that one but it's usually only about C2,000. Again, the Corvina is excellent.

The Balcon de Marisco in the Curridibad area is simple but good food. Expect a C5,000 taxi ride outbound M-F because of traffic and half that for the return. Lobster is good as is the Corvina.

After the issues at the Princess Marina restaurants my friend has no interest in returning, though it wouldn't bother me a bit. There are several in town & I believe they have all reopened (after having sickened hundreds...). Similar to El Balcon de Marisco these are simple affairs with good sea food.

Finally, Jurgens near the Mall San Pedro is very good. It's a German restaurant & the pricing is about the same - maybe a little less - that the two hotels. If the taxi driver doesn't know where it is, have him turn left at the Suburu dealer on the was to the mall, then left again (I believe). It's easy walking distance from the Suburu though I wouldn't recommend it at night.

The French restaurant (Hotel Belvedere?) and the Italian restaurant (in the Italian building) were, to us, simply okay and not really worth a return. the French restaurant was a little too pricey in my opinion.

Any other suggestions for **fine** dining in the Centro area? Nuestra Terra on Avenida Segundo was - to me - over priced & we'll likely not return.

Oh...if you're a Starbucks fan the Caffe Lattes at the Spoon restaurants (Ave Central just a few hundred feet West of Hotel Presidente, opposite side & in the Mall San Pedro, 2nd floor I believe) are a good substitute for the Starbucks Frappucinos and is usually all I have for lunch while my gal gets lasagna or a sandwich.


/Dan D.