Semana Santa has passed, our TEN houseguests have retreated to the states and the afternoon rains have returned. Our oranges and mandarins are gone. We still have dozens of mangos on the trees. Two papaya trees, dragonfruit boughs and a starfruit are nearing harvest time.
Our visitors hail from Virginia and Pennsylvania. Those who have been here before loved the post-earthquake additions to La Paz Waterfall Gardens and enjoyed lunch again at Colbert in Vara Blanca. (Side Note - Through the end of May, La Paz Waterfall Gardens is offering free entrance if you go to their Facebook page and click that you "Like" the page. This can save you a bundle of money if you are going in a group. Check it out.)
Together with the newbies, we went back a week later and eleven of us had very large well-prepared casados plus ten drinks and eight desserts for 44,000 colones including tip and tax at Freddo Fresas in Fraijanes. Lucas, the pastry chef, produced fine Napoleons and a variety of quality sweet breads. Grilled chicken, pork cutlets and corvina starred on plates of rice, red beans, maduras and salad. Charming Juan Carlos speaks English. 2482-2800.
Back in the Central Valley, they thought that the coffee-root-roasted chicken at Pollos Del Monte in Belen was “the very best ever.” They praised the onion rings and batidos as well. Seafood lunch at D` La Costa in El Roble for ten people received raves and the bill was only 30,000 colones. During their stay they had very nice seafood at El Pelicano in Herradura and fine dinners at Don Rufino in La Fortuna.
Good news for those of you who voted Casona de Laly the best Tico restaurant in the land. You don`t have to struggle with difficult parking on the small street in old Escazú any more. Rancho de Laly has its own parking lot for effortless access about 80 meters west of Cruz Roja in Santa Ana, on the north side of the road where Los Picantes used to be. The menu boasts 60 bocas all of which are larger than ordinary bocas and approach meal size in most cases. You`ll love the prices. They average 1700 colones and none exceed 2500. Jairo, a friend of mine, is a very good friend of Laly. He shared that several people have suggested that Laly raise his prices to match the competition. He steadfastly refuses, maintaining a modest markup over cost and delighting his clientele of appreciative unpretentious people. He also offers German, Mexican and Nicaraguan beer in addition to local brew. For those of us who bemoan the absence of decent Mexican food here, he has included about ten Mexican items among his sixty. The service is efficient and friendly. Tuesday – Sunday, 11 A.M. to 2A.M. 2203-4214
It has been a while since I have touted a restaurant in Alajuela despite the fact that I have a mailbox there and visit at least weekly. There are several good coffee shops and charismatic Norman`s nice Tex-Mex Jalapeños Central. Years ago, I enjoyed a slightly dingy Peruvian restaurant, which underwent a makeover and name change a year or two ago. Now it draws contented crowds of locals for lunch and dinner. Its name is Restaurante Chiwake. If you know the one way street that runs from central Alajuela and becomes two way at the intersection bounded by McDonald's, Taco Bell, a bank and a gas station, the restaurant is a block back up the one way street (unfortunately it runs in the opposite direction so you have to circle the block). If you like stuffed or layered potato dishes in authentic Peruvian style, you will enjoy the entire first page of the menu, which offers eight delectable choices all for about $4 or $5. My wife called the papa a la Huancaino as good as any she has ever had and proclaimed Chiwake her new favorite Peruvian Restaurant. My favorites include chicharron de pulpo and picante de mariscos.
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