The North Coast Restaurants

Restaurants run the gamut here, from lovely, fine-dining experiences down to good surf-camp chow downs. And there are the local joints selling rice and beans, often with some indeterminate meat component. You can find more independent establishments in Cabarete and Sosúa, which draw a larger contingent of independent travelers. Since Playa Dorada is primarily an all-inclusive compound, there are not too many choices outside the resorts, but we list a couple of good ones and fun cafés as well.

The price of food here keeps escalating, and that is as true in grocery stores as much as in restaurants. Generally, restaurants in Cabarete are priced higher than those in Sosúa. The good news is that the quality of the food on the North Coast is on the rise. Not all restaurants take credit cards, so be sure to ask in advance if that matters, and if they do take credit cards, there's usually a 4% or 5% surcharge. The tax and service (which usually totals 26%) are often not included in the menu prices, so be sure to ask about that as well. This is one place where you can leave your Amex card at home; most restaurants do not accept it unless they're in hotels.

In the supermarkets you'll pay 16% tax on most of your purchases. If you shop the colmados, tax is not usually added, but prices are higher. The D.R. is no longer a cheap place to dine out; now, as in the rest of the Caribbean, you'll save greatly on your food bill by staying at an all-inclusive resort, especially if the food there is good.

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