www.CostaRicaTicas.com

It doesn't look like much, down there in the gulch not far from the New
York Bar, but the Balcon de Europa represents great food at a price
that would make New Yorkers weep. The tourist guide says Italian, but I
urge you to ask for the real menu. I had classic French cuisine:
perfect cream of asparagus soup; delectable filets of veal in a white
wine sauce made by someone who knows how; and creme brule that was
just out of this world. The wine list was limited, but you can only drink
a couple bottles anyway, right? You'll laugh at me but my favorite part
of the meal consisted of the vegetables that accompanied the veal
and rice: green beans, carrots, and celery that were wonderfully
flavored and of the perfect consistency. I think I was vegie-deprived;
the rest of San Jose is all about shredded iceberg lettuce. The
service was prompt with a waiter who seemed excited that I didn't just
want pizza. They've got great food there, and they know it. I paid less
than $25 for a meal (not including wine) that would have cost $150 in
New York (where it is surprisingly difficult to find the old-style, creamy
French food), and the place was uncrowded, which I like very much. How
often do you go to a place where the chef takes a personal interest in
your enjoyment? I shook the man's hand, and I will be back.

Down in the gulch, where you are being so kind to your pleasure organs,
stop into Balcon de Franco after some great sexo and give your
palate a special treat.

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Same river, new water

Ok, sounds great. Where is it in Gringo speak?

It's on the east side of Calle 9 between Avenida Centrale and Avenida
1. So, from the News Cafe at the Presidente, you just turn right out
the door, take the first calle to the left, and there it is (right on the
way to the BLue Marlin and Key Largo). Just up the street is the
New York bar, that is not haute cuisine or stylish but that is usually
full of some very nice and well-informed beer-guzzlers accompanied
by some entertaining bartenders and some available chicas who are
not as greedy as those up the street. I'm a newbie, but this much I
know.

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Same river, new water

balcon de europa...toledo guy..............the seafood soup is tasty there..............

I stand corrected. I checked my credit card receipt and it says
Balcon de Europa. But I must have gotten the name de Franco from
somewhere! A sign? My guidebook that I can't find. Anyway I went
back and edited my original post. If anyone can clear up the
Franco vs. Europa discrepancy, I'd appreciate it. Or maybe I was
just feeling in that generalissimo mood when I was dining there.

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Same river, new water

The name is Balcon de Europa (but is also know as the Balcon de Franco) and the restaurant is reportedly the oldest restaurant in Costa Rica since it has been in existence since 1909.

The former chef was Franci Piatti and the menu was basically Italian. Chef Piatti passed away and a new chef Jean-Pierre Popis is now in charge of the kitchen.

Chef Popis was the owner Brasserie Parrisienne in San Jose. He came to Costa Rica a year and a half ago after 40 years of culinary experience in Bordeaux.

A quote from the Tico Times "the chef plans to keep the historic name of the restaurant.......as well as the staff, decor and Italian menu, but will slowly incorporate French cuisine to make it a bicultural establishment".

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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

excellent food at resonable prices. grab a buck your in luck. pura vida

It is amazing that they changed the name to Balcon de Franco 8 years after he died. I remember him from my first trips, and he was quite the raconteur. He came out and made sure everything was right for everybody, treating customers to a shot of some sort of creme liqueur on the house. It slipped quite a bit for a while after that. The cheese and bread at the beginning were never fresh. It was better the last time I was there about a year ago. I had lengua en salsa de tomate, which is one of my CR favorites. By the way, the cream of asparagus soup I had at the Balmoral around the same time was pretty good too.

Neither of these places is particularly chica friendly, from what I've heard. A friend was asked to leave Balcon because his girl friend was quite dark and they thought she was a hooker. The waiter at the Balmoral said they tried to keep them out, but my fave from A&S a few years ago wanted to meet me there. Maybe it's like the Prez, where it is ok if they are escorted.

i take my hookers there for food,i found the bread a little stale there as well........toledo, i have had the carne in wine sauce,nice.........

the changeover just happened recently, and though I havent eaten there lately...I dont think I will compare with the former restaurant/chef until I have eaten this fine chefs fare. Nice to have another finer dining option in the gulch though.

I ate there last Tuesday (3-15). $40 for two people including wine. The food was exquisite with both French and Italian choices. I've been tio CR at least fifteen lime and never eaten there. It was certainly worth every cent.