Mar y Sol

Mar y Sol Review

Linger over a fine French-accented dinner at this chic but casual terrace restaurant—it's truly one of the best dining experiences in Costa Rica. Come early to catch the spectacular sunset view over the ocean from the popular second-floor cocktail lounge. It's perched on a breezy hillside where you can munch on pizza studded with lobster and brie cheese, or fried shrimp with a starfruit habañera dipping sauce. Chef/owners Alain and Jean-Luc Taulere represent the sixth and seventh generations of a family of French restaurateurs, so of course there is traditional French onion soup and chateaubriand for two on the menu. Even more interesting are young Jean-Luc's creative fusions of French tradition with tropical flavors, such as duck confit served with a polenta cake and fresh plum sauce. For smaller appetites there'a new menu of medium-size dishes, such as yuca-encrusted yellowfin tuna with a citrus reduction sauce. Popular starters include the restaurant's signature dish: coco del mar, a not-to-be-missed mélange of local seafood, flavored with ginger and lemongrass and cooked in lobster stock and fresh coconut milk. Instead of classic crème brûlée, there's a guava flan, along with cool and luscious homemade coconut ice cream. Chocolate lovers will swoon over the molten chocolate volcano cake. There's an extensive wine cellar to match the sophisticated menu, and you can sample 20 or so wines by the glass. Service is faultless and smoothly professional. Open for lunch and dinner; closed Tuesday.