If you happen to be looking for a nice restaurant...

Please stay as FAR AWAY from Baalbek as you can...

If you happen to go there nonetheless, you're just dumb.....

You might have said, "what?" or "Baalbek?"....

For those that don't know, Baalbek is a bar/grill restaurant up in the mountains of Heredia, upward of San Rafael, in a very nice area that hosts bars like "añoranzas, puerta de alcala" hotels like "El Tirol, La Condesa"....

Baalbek is deeply embedded (yeah I got that from CNN) in the mountain, and has an impressive feel to it as you approach... The place looks to good to be true from the outside... It is.

Not only is this place RIDICULOUSLY expensive, and I mean RIDICULOUSLY....its not even close to being decent. Yes, I've only been there once but it was that bad that I ain't going back...

The meats were not all that good (mediocre-decent) and came with 3 things. 1) A leaf of lettuce (literally), an eighth of a tomato (that looks like it knows the meaning of pain), 2) a boiled potato (nada on top, not even salt) and 3) platanos maduros.

Although I have nothing against platanos maduros, they kind of go nicely with a casado, not with a restaurant like this, here you kind of expect a little bit more. The potato was rather tasteless and the salad, well, I just couldn't bring myself to touch it....

You know the term 'across the board'? Well, guess what came with the other 3 dishes that were ordered....

If you go there, be prepared for two things, one of which is guaranteed....

A stomach ache or an astronomical bill which will probably lead to the very same stomach ache.

All in all, I must say the experience sucked, I'll never be back and I was very very very disappointed.

Baalbek, you suck.

 

[Ms.Thing]

Slim, I heard the place itself is pretty nice and romantic, a friend told me it's a nice place to go to for some drinks, but I think I won't be trying the food

When I go to a good (expensive) restaurant, I demand good food and great service, otherwise, I rather go to Taco Bell.

 

Slim,thanks for the tip.Hi Ms Thing.

 

[CasinoNow]

You know, the last time I was down in CR, I ended up at this little "french" restaurant way out close to the Marriot. I think it was called Louis or something like that. It was also very expensive, but the service and atmosphere were great, the wines were decent (I did send back one bottle though - with no problems), and the food was simply outstanding. May be worth giving it a shot sometime. It was a bit expensive for my tastes, but an occassional visit wouldn't be too bad.

 

[onthestage]

I liked it. That fireplace and everything... the view...

Maybe not a good place to order steaks, but for drinks and some romance... thumbs UP.

 

Casino,if you remember the name,post it,Always looking for new places.

 

Hmmmm, as you approach Baalbek you think, holy shit, this place is beautiful, just amazing, the tall trees in the darkness, the atmosphere, everything is just breathtaking but boy oh boy was the food a disappointment.....

Perhaps for a drink it would be ok, other than that, dont go there....

 

Judge if you get a chance or a day off and want to try something new.....

Near Naranjo there is a small restaurant to the side of the road called 'Sabor Mediterraneo'...its kind of hard to get there but it is really worth it. Its an Italian restaurant run by Italians

The owner's name is Paolo Ferrari and his food is amazing. Better than Tre Fratelli, better than Pommodoro and better than probably any other italian rest. in San Jose.

Simply delicious and highly recommended

 

[Tico]

I visited Outback Steakhouse recently....

The setting is nice, as is the plaza that houses this restaurant and several others... but I was not impressed with their food.

A brother of mine ordered their most expensive dish, the meat platter, and was quite disappointed. I can't even remember what I ordered anymore, but I wasn't impressed at all. The bill was on the "high side".

Are any of the other restaurants there worth a visit?

Denny's is alright, but I think their menu is a bit limited. I will either be visiting Samurai or L'Monastere soon. Will post how the food is.

Any more recommendations anyone?

Tico

 

[bluesun]

Le Monastere is the best place I've ever been to, very romantic, great view and great food. Samurai has good sushi, but if you want to try the best sushi ever go to Sakura, in the Herradura Hotel, you'll thank me later

 

Slim,will definately try it.Blue used to go to Le Monastary alot.Thought the food was above average.The view and the ambiance are spectacular.Now that I have the same view from my living room,don't bother going there.Blue try Ram Luna,on the other side of town.Food nothing special,buy ambiance is very romantic and prices are reasonable.

 

YES!!!!! Right on blue! Sakura is a million times better than samurai! Best sushi place in Costa Rica, Sakura!

L'Monastere, very very very nice, what can you say, that place rules, among the best here, not only for food but for the overall feeling.

Ram Luna, also kicks ass, similar in theory to L'Monastere but on the opposite side of a town. Very nice place.

Outback is losing it.....grrrr, there food is not all that great, its now more pricey than it was and their lunch specials are getting smaller every time, now they dont include the little soup or the dessert...

 

Slim,plus I didn't move here to eat at Outback.Did go there twice because I am a prime rib junky,Both times it sucked.Cafe De Artiste in Escazu is now open for dinner.Love it for breakfeast and lunch but haven't tried dinner yet,but hear they have prime rib some nights.Will try it soon.

 

[CasinoNow]

That's my kind of eating judge. Prime rib - still mooing. LOL

You can't really beat Vegas for that though. Lots of places get you a huge prime rib for only $6 or $7. Of course, a lot of places there also charge the same for what looks like some kind of mystery meat, or something that had been sat on for 6 months.

I think the best I've ever had was at a place in DC called the Palms. Very ritzy place. I think the one I ordered was about $50, but I wasn't paying so didn't really care. It was so huge that it overlapped the entire plate, and the guys at the table started singing the flintstones song when they brought it over. LMAO