You can get by without reservations at most San José restaurants, but not at this small, traditional, and very formal west-side Spanish restaurant. The dining room follows the Spanish theme with a tile floor, wood beams, white tablecloths, leather-and-wood Castilian-style chairs, and red, green, and yellow walls. Champiñones al ajillo (mushrooms sautéed with garlic and parsley) make a fine appetizer; camarones Catalana (shrimp in a tomato-and-garlic cream sauce) is a standout entrée. You'll find one of the city's most extensive wine lists here, strongest in varieties from France and Spain.
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