GOOD STUFF TO EAT
Dining in Dominical
Don’t let the $$$ designations throw you off: virtually every restaurant on this list is a great value, but some are a little pricier than others. You won’t better food for the money than at Exotica. About $30 per person with wine.
La Junta
This is a reasonably recent addition to our list and we LOVE IT. When we first came to Dominical, there was a Spanish language school at this site, which is right along the river, and slightly beyond Mama Toucan’s and Mono Congo. The menu is full of yummy choices including a variety of burgers, so we all ended up ordering their Basic Burger. It is anything but basic. The grass-fed beef burger is large and flavorful, but the condiments are what make it. Yes, tomato and onion, but the pickles are terrific, and homemade aioli. Get it with the side salad and order the Asian salad (I know, it’s an odd choice with a burger.) Then get a side of fries for the table. Best burger you’ll ever have, but there are two others to experiment with on your next visit. There’s a full bar, which was rocking, and it’s a quick walk to the riverbank if you want to stroll. $$
Mono Congo
There is a sort of sweet earnestness about Mono Congo. Excellent food along the river, with vegan and vegetarian breakfasts and lunches. Fresh baked goods and an extensive menu. Our favorite place for healthy breakfasts and smoothies. $$
Image courtesy of Trip Advisor!
Tortilla Flats
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Surfer hangout, and the food is good and cheap. Try their Mahi either way, or Casado, which is the Costa Rican National meal. $
Crocodile Cafe
Up the Rio Baru about 1km, part of the resort (Villas Rio Mar) where we stayed when we bought and built Caballitos del Mar. The rooms, meals, and service are very nice, and we enjoy going there for an afternoon swim in their pool with a swim-up bar. Full bar and good menu. $$$
Mariscos Amancio
This completely was off our radar for a few years, and we are so bummed we didn’t know about it! The driveway/entrance off of La Costanera is not very easy to find, but you can drive down and park on the driveway that leads to Porque No? (now closed.) Wonderful seafood, lovely drinks, cute location. From the Caballitos driveway, it’s less an one km. Look for the Porque No? sign on the side of the highway. The next driveway is Amancio Seafood, or Seafood Amancio.
4.9 stars on Google. Check to see if it’s open; Google says it temporarily closed. $$$
La Parcela
Fantastic location, especially at sunset or for lunch. One of the best reasons to visit La Parcela is that they have a local troop of monkeys who visit every evening around 5:00. Great for the kids! Recently, the restaurant has been upgraded and the food and service are excellent. Their Margaritas are superbe. South of our villas by about 1.5 km, just south of Dominicalito. Seafood and other entrees. $$$
Jolly Roger
It’s a bit of a chore to get there, 4WD recommended, but a fun place for wings and burgers. Drive south, turn left just prior to Cuna de Angel, and drive up, up, up for a couple of km. It will be on the left, and probably you’ll hear it before you get there. $$
La Scala
Elegant dining and great cocktails. About 5km south of the villas, on the same road as the Jolly Roger. La Scala is an open-air delight, at $$$ prices.
Cuna de Angel
12 minutes S of Caballitos. It’s a gorgeous open air restaurant with an extensive cocktail selection and lovely service. Part of a boutique hotel on a cliff over the Pacific. Can get pricey with a full dinner, but worth it. $$$$
Citrus
30 minutes S of Dominical, Citrus seems to always be popular based on the number of cars in the parking lot. Lovely open air interior, with a wide variety of salads, appetizers, mains, and deserts. Fun, somewhat noisy atmosphere. I used to rate this with four dollar signs but there are very few entrees over $30. The cuisine has Asian, beef and other meats, and seafood. $$$
Del Mar Taco Shop
Very close to the beach, this taco shop has yummy tacos and burritos, nice service, and good prices. $
This is Exotica’s famous avocado citric salad, with a touch of sweetness from pineapple. Perfection!
Exotica
Our Favorite Place No Question About It
Formerly run by Lucy and Robert, transplanted French-Canadians, and now run by their granddaughter Maité and her husband. Excellent food, full bar, reasonable prices. Although it’s 30-35 minutes south of the villas, it’s absolutely worth the drive. Drive south, past Uvita, and look for Playa Ventanas (small beach sign on right.) Continue to Ojochal, turn left off the highway. Continue straight across a small concrete bridge. Turn left after the bridge and drive about 1km on a dirt road. Continue until you see the restaurant sign. Reservations recommended. You will not be disappointed.
+(506) 2786-5050 $$$
The Villas
There are lots of lovely places to stay in Costa Rica, yet very few are on the beach, and have direct access to the ocean. When we found a piece of property nestled in the forest but very close to the beach, we bought it despite the many complications of owning* property in the “Maritime Zone.” Regardless, we’re delighted we did because the proximity to the beach is vital to making full use of the beauty of Costa Rica
