The pista to Caldera reopened for a few days and we ate paella at Costa del Sol. It was tasty and redolent with seafood, chicken pieces and chunks of fish. Two of us took home enough for a third leftover portion. At C14000 for two, it did not seem overpriced with half a lobster each, lots of small shrimp, baby clams and octopus pieces. Our third diner had lenguado on my recommendation, in a butter-lime sauce. She loved the flavor, but her piece didn’t have the perfect texture that mine had had the time before. I suggest that you try it when the waiter can reassure you that it is the same day’s catch or out of the live tank. Their coconut flan was unusually fine.
Two more converts now consider Trattoria Bell’Italia their favorite Italian Restaurant and a mention that the only couple who didn’t like it may be impossible to please on occasion. “I sat near her once at a Wine Club event at a fabulous restaurant and she sent her salad back to the kitchen three times” quoth anon.
Tony Alaimo’s third restaurant reincarnation is on the Santa Ana Radial, just behind Scotia Bank. Its name is Tres Scalini. Tony, as you may recall, presided over the popular Ponte Vecchio, then went to Peoria, Illinois for a few years. He returned in 2003 to open the popular Il Retorno in Casa Italia. When his lease wasn’t renewed he moved from the east end of the Central Valley to the west side. His new restaurant is nicely appointed. The wait staff are quite professional. His same lengthy menu contains an entire page of veal choices. Portions are generous, plates attractive and prices well below other venues like Bacchus, Di Bartolo and Cerutti. He still manages to leave the kitchen periodically to greet his guests in his chef’s jacket and multicolored pants. When we went on a week night, there were about twenty diners enjoying their food.
Really good hot dogs are a rarity in Costa Rica. Marvin from New York tried dozens of different ones and suggested that the huge steamed all meat ones at Price Smart were the best, unless you buy Hebrew National or Nathan’s at Auto Mercado or Little Israel and grill them at home. I agree with him.
Café Des Artistas is drawing raves from old customers who feel that the new chef/owner Chris Reeves has raised the quality of the American fare.
Want to know how to make vegan and vegetarian food delicious? Radha at the Sat Yoga Institute gives five-hour cooking classes for about $80 quarterly. The recipes my wife has learned to prepare there are fabulous. For information contact Radha's Kitchen at 2288-3294.
Marsha and Tom travel from San Jose to Jacó frequently in the company of a Tico couple who live on their block. They asked for a recommendation for lunch along the way which had at least a few Tico dishes and some upscale options. I steered them to Tropical in Orotina next to the gas station in the center of town, a block and a half north of the market plaza They loved the festive tipico environment, the food and the prices. There were about thirty local people eating lunch there on a weekday. All four enjoyed their hearty basic food. Marsha particularly praised the white sauce on her chicken cordon blue. Tom’s lengua en salsa was “butter tender.” C2700 casados, pastas, fajitas and ceviches seemed to be the most popular large plates flowing out of the kitchen when we were there. They have a well stocked bar. Rogelio, the proprietor, is muy amable. Telephone number: 2428-7755.
Adios to Pasta y Vino in Belen. Your chicken parmigiana and tomato sauce were very nice. I hope chef Martin Allen finds a place for his talents.
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Hey Lenny! Just had breakfast with my family at Cafe de Artistas and left very dissapointed. I was expecting much better fare for the prices I paid. My son had a waffle that was clearly made from box mix and tasted bland and chewy. The coffee served was abismal, as it was the sauce that accompanied my Rojas Wrap which was way too sweet and sour and just strange all along. The gallo pinto seemed way too dry and lacked spicing as did the home fries.
It is too bad since I used to love the spot back in the day and had high hopes for the new ownership. I am afraid that for the locale and area, the menu should be executed properly and charged accordingly. If I wanted "soda" style food, I would have gone to one and paid a fraction of the cost. On the positive side service was warm and music was fun. Is that enough to come back???
Posted by: Marco González Murillo | August 19, 2010 at 11:50 AM