www.CostaRicaTicas.com

I will be down in April 2013 with a buddy who enjoys the high end culinary experience including the best wines...Not looking for value - just one of the best places within a Taxi Cab Ride from the Gulch.

Could I please tap into the forum for reccommendations on a few of the best fine dining restaurants in San Jose. A good wine selection (not necessarily from California or States) is important. Fusion, French, Peruvian, Argentinian...
Thanks guys. I appreciate it.

Machu Picchu Restaurants › Peruvian



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Machu Picchu
Address
Calle 32 btwn Avs 1 & 3
Website
www.restaurantemachupicchu.com
Phone
2222-7384 2255-1717
Price
mains US$8-22, children’s menu US$6-9
Hours
10am-10pm Mon-Sat, 11am-6pm Sun

Lonely Planet review for Machu Picchu
This locally renowned Peruvian restaurant will do you right if you have a hankering for all things Andean. A popular spot for a leisurely Sunday lunch, it has an encyclopedic menu featuring tasty Peruvian classics such as pulpo al olivo (octopus in olive sauce), ají de gallina (a nutty chicken stew) and causa (chilled potato terrines stuffed with shrimp and avocado), among many other delicacies.

Fogo Brazil, the best I have been to in my life

Paging Scuba1.... Scuba1 to the white courtesy phone, please....


Try Donde Carlos in Los Yoses.

Mh

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mh

How about some leads on a NICE restaurant for a seafood lover rather than a meat lover??

Thanks if you can.

a really nice place is Ram Luna, up in Asseri. it sits on top of the mountain overlooking san jose. its a cab ride past Desamperados, but well worth the trip. wednesday night is their buffet and activities. alot of well to do locals dine there

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Having too much fun. 8)

The restaurants listed so far, with the possible exception of Donde Carlos, I would not consider "fine dining". They might have good food but fine dining takes in more then just good food.

However, rating restaurants is very subjective so that is only my opinion. I would suggest:

Jurgens Los Yoses International

Bacchus Santa Ana Italian

Le Chandelier San Pedro French

Hotel Gran de Oro San Jose International

Park Cafe Sabana Norte Fusion

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Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine

I like Donde Carlos, but have normally recommended it in conjunction with guys posting how great "La Esquina de Buenos Aires" is - Donde Carlos, while a <short> cab ride away in Los Yoses, has better food and a better atmosphere and service - but the beef in Costa Rica, compared to a good steakhouse in the USA, is poor.

To be honest, most of the time I order the fish and meat carpacio along with a hearts of palm salad at DC. DC is a CRT sponsor; small discount (5% if you pay by CC; 10% if you pay cash) vs La Esquina, who is not, although they were at one time; there have been reports that if you ask, they might honor the CRT card - does not hurt to ask, I suppose.

La Esquina is not bad and has the advantage of being walkable to much of the gulch - but suffers from the curse of every steak place in CR - I just think you are better off not ordering beef (or Chinese food - unless you love "Ham Chop Suey" - kill me....). The chicken, pork, fish as well as the vegitales are good.

Candidly, the best res't I've found in Costa Rica is the one I've been to with you, Il Returno - the food was great

I'm going to give it another chance - will return there tonight or tomorrow night with the novia and see what happens. Maybe we'll get the same waiter

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mh

Thank you everyone for your suggestions. I too have noticed that the beef is not as good in the USA and I attributed to either being Argentinian and grass fed so it just taste - well, different! Just mho.

I think the restaurant mentioned that sits at the top of the mountain where the local top brass goes is the one I will choose for fun and Park Cafe Sabana Norte Fusion for fine dining experience. Going to hit either Macchu Picchu or Donde Carlos. Thanks again.

Is the Fogo de Brazil the one near the airport? It seemed okay to me when I was there last year. .

Cheers

Restaurant at Hotel Grano de Oro is I guess as ID mentioned above is a fine dining experience. I take friends there who I want to impress and they always are. Me-I prefer a couple of slices of NY style pizza and some eggplant parm!

For your sake, I hope not




Not the case - the beef in CR for the most part is domestic - and while grass fed can be good, b/c its not grain fed (or aged for that matter) in Costa Rica, its just not up to the standards we expect in the USA - for the most part - I have heard that there are some places that its OK, but overall, you are better off with the pork, chicken, or seafood.

.

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If you lose your temper you’re phucking yourself - Garcia Marquez

Irish Drifter has posted h best list so far.

Here's mine...note that three options are in Avenida Escazú.

1.Park Cafe:creative menu, intimate atmosphere
2.Grano De Oro: nice ambiance
3.Bacchus: Italian in Santa Ana
4. Saga : fusion/international menu in Avenida Escazú
5. Le Chandelier: French bistro in Avenida Escazú
6. Divina Comida: nouveau Peruvian, good wine list
7 Di Bartolo: Italian in Escazú, overpriced wine list
8. Doris Metropolitan: aged beef is their calling card
9. Tin Jo: pan Asian downtown
10: jurgenns: some quality dishes, located in San Pedro

Honorable Mention: Novillo Alegre beats out Donde Zcarlos for best Argentinian steak house.
Dark horse: Stefanos in Escazú...very nice Italn with reasonable wine prizes

There is not much fine dining in San Jose. My favorite that I would consider fine dining is Hotel Gran de Oro San Jose International.