Hi, need help with good restaurants in Arenal and Manuel Antonio.

We're really looking for places with the best food and/or special atmosphere. We're a family of 4 with 2 teenage boys.

Thanks!

Don Rufinos in Arenal...Nene's another good option.

Gran Escape in Quepos....for a good snack by the beach Marlin's at Manuel Antonio, great burgers.

Luis Eduardo

Do check out El Novillo, an open air rancho type building that serves as a steak house--on your right as you are heading toward Arenal and Tabacon from La Fortuna.

In town, La Choza de Laurel (is that right, everyone?), Don Rufino's are both good.

Thanks, the boys love steak.

Shillmac, now that the holidays are over and our trip is officially less than a month away, I'm going to be bothering you a lot more!

For fine dining in MA, we enjoyed a new place called, Kapi Kapi. Nice atmosphere and great food. We also had a great Tico lunch in a tent just off the beach in MA. No name, but great pork ribs, etc.

MY

In Arenal, we loved El Novillo and La Choza de Laurel. In MA, our favorite was Ronnie's Place/Mi Lugar - known for their lobster, fresh seafood, and sangria, also liked Barba Roja, Cafe Agua Azul, Salsipuedes for tapas, and Cafe Milagro for espresso shakes. In MA, get to restaurants early so you can watch the sunsets; almost all of them have a great view.

Has anyone eaten at El Patio in MA? The menu looks yummy! I guess it's a spinoff or something of Cafe Milagra?

Also, I will try to get to the lobster place vgirl. I LOVE lobster, so anymore great seafood recommendations would be great!

Yes Hip I've eaten there. It is part of Milagro. They have their coffee roaster and souvenir stuff 2 doors away.

Mainly I have had the fancy coffees and desserts, but there are some interesting dishes.

There is a seafood place out of town called Marisqueria Juiberts. Its off the beaten tourist track. I was there years ago. Don't know about lobster. (It is now somewhere near the airport)
http://www.maryheebner.com/thework/e...ocaldive2.html

raquel

I'll be looking forward to hearing from you, nina!

Raquel, there is a place there in Manuel Antonio recommended to me a couple of years ago as a great comida tipica place by Lisa and Harry, who work with Latitude 9 real estate there. I've forgotten the name of it. But think it was Mar something? Sound familiar?

shillmac, was it Mar Y Sombra?

hip, I think you will really like the restaurants in MA; they offered a lot of variety that I didn't see elsewhere in CR. Also, if you love seafood, you will be in heaven. At several places, we commented on the freshness of the fish, and they told us it was just caught that morning - very cool. Ronnie's Place/Mi Lugar is set a little outside of town; it was the only place we went that we couldn't walk to, but we took a cab, and the fare was only 5 dollars. When we got there, we saw every single person from our sailing excursion earlier in the day, so I guess it's a popular spot!

Shillmac,

I think it may be Mar Luna. It has a great sunset view. Its not too far from Salsipuedes and Barba Roja.

Mar Y Sombra is not really there anymore. (half of it is and they sometimes sell drinks during the day)

Another very Tico and very reasonable place - in downtown Quepos - is Soda Sanchez.

raquel

Thanks gals! (and Luis)

Yes, seafood is my absolute favorite, so hoping to try some good places in MA for sure. Isn't the restaurant at Si Como No supposed to be really good too? I thought I read that somewhere...Oh, what about that tapas place near Costa Verde? Too many choices, not enough time! Oh, and what about Plinio? Sigh.

I'm hungry.

We had two excellent meals at El Avion. Especially liked the seafood. Great service and views (even had 2 sloths appear in the trees just beyond the balcony for added entertainment). Nightly specials are especially worth consideration.

Yes, the more "formal" restaurant at Si Como No is very good (although I've seen at least one comment to the contrary). Very nice setting, good food, excellent guitar player with background music, and good service.

Sorry - should have clarified that El Avion is in MA.

Yes, Mar Luna, that's it. Mar y Sombra was down on the beach right? Sort of a party place with a few bad incidents resulting in some very negative publicity?

Also agree the restaurants at Si Como No are good. We also like, what is it, the Rico Tico Bar for lunch? The less formal of the two. . .
The food there has always been top notch.

shillmac - Yes, it's the Rico Tico Bar. And their breakfast buffet (included with the room) is excellent. Some of the fruit is picked off the property each morning. Just like at my house - NOT!!