All About San José
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With all the coming and going, the morning stroll and the shopping spree downtown, it seems like your stomach has forgotten that just a few hours ago it enjoyed breakfast at the hotel veranda. You note that the Oeufs à la Benedictine, the gallo pinto with sour cream and the pancakes with bacon Texas fashion, all washed down with coffee and freshly squeezed orange juice, really made for a super international and sumptuous breakfast! Enough to forget about lunch! No way! Your stomach demands with an awful and loud growl as a reminder that is time to indulge again.
Downtown
Since you are close to the hotel, you decide to go back, change, and drop your shopping bags. On the way out, you almost sit back down again on the same veranda where you had breakfast this morning, but your instinct reminds you that hotel restaurants (with clear exceptions, that is) are good for breakfast, and breakfast only. Therefore, you go out in quest for good food at other times.
Finding a good restaurant is not a problem. In the gastronomic arena, San José puts on airs of a big city and savoir faire, rubbing shoulders and rivaling with more cosmopolitan towns. With the development of a solid and always growing tourism industry, restaurants specializing in dishes from all over the world are common including fast food chains, small cozy restaurants, and five star rooms. Since the coastlines are so close together, seafood is known for its freshness, as they are brought in daily refrigerated, but not frozen. At Tin Jo Corvina, shrimp from the Pacific and lobster from the Caribbean are served Chinese style, although the marisquerías offer the widest variety, the freshest product and the best prices. For another great restaurant with a romantic atmosphere, try Mirador and taste some local Costa Rican delicacies.
Escazú
Concerning the indigenous gastronomy, the corn kitchen stands out. As a heritage from the indigenous tradition all the way from Northern Mexico to South America, the tortillas, tamales, corn biscuits, and a wide array of dishes made out of corn are part of the daily diet. This are combined with beans and picadillos, meats and all sort of vegetables. There are some specialized quality restaurants developing a new Costa Rican cuisine like Casa de Doña Lela which mixes genuinely local ingredients with others of higher lineage in the preparation of truly original and exclusive dishes. The best steakhouse in the city can be found at Barbecue Los Anonos which serves huge portions. For italian food, try Cerutti and Alfredo, both are well recommended by the locals. French cuisine at Le Monastere is always a wonderful option for dining in Escazú and for Pervian fusion try La Divina Comida.
Montes de Oca
Montes de Oca and the university area is a very busy district, with lots of hungry students at lunchtime. To fulfill this need, besides the fast food chains and the picturesque Chinese restaurants, economical refreshment room outlets and sodas are found all over. At Antigua they offer their patrons the traditional gallo pinto, which is a dish made out of mixed refried rice and beans with onion, bell pepper and coriander deliciously seasoned with sour cream or eggs on the side. Another option is La Castilla where they serve casado which is a very well balanced and complete dish that includes salad, some picadillo or vegetable, plantain and a selection of meats (chicken, fish, pork, or beef). Every establishment makes it differently but there is no doubt they carry the home made seal. If you are on a tight budget or otherwise want to try something really local, go to La Isabela Tapas & Wine Bar for some spanish tapas and for coffee lovers, try Casa del Café and choose among a huge variety of flavors.
Outside of the City
San José, all the way down from Central Avenue to Sabana Oeste, Escazú, and San Pedro is the mecca for culinary arts. Nevertheless, you will find good typical restaurants and outlets practically in every corner of this little piece of land. Outside of the city, for a real Argentine experience, go to Restaurante La Casa del Viñedo and try some beef from the pampas. Near the airport, Las Planchas offers traditional Costa Rican cuisine and Chubascos provides diners with a tremendous variety of wines.
So now that you made up your mind with a firm decision and a demanding stomach, there is only one thing left to say, Bon Appetite!
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