ELIOT Greenspan deserves a standing ovation for his second edition of “The Tico Times Restaurant Guide to Costa Rica.” This comprehensive bilingual treasury caters to both discriminating gourmands and those with simple tastes and frugal eating habits. The dining-out odyssey covers the restaurant scene in downtown San José, the Central Valley and Pacific and Caribbean beaches, as well as Arenal and Monteverde.
A man of many talents, Greenspan is an adept travel writer and journalist, and author of the popular “Frommer’s Costa Rica” and other Frommer’s guides. Since coming to Costa Rica in 1992, he has also collaborated with The Tico Times in various capacities. One wonders when this poet, musician, accomplished cook and bon vivant finds the time to do all this eating! But the proof is in the pudding, as he has shown – once again – in his excellent up-to-date companion to dining out in Costa Rica.
The 220-page second edition includes 400 establishments and 70 new additional restaurant reviews from around the country. “The response to the first edition was fabulous,” Greenspan comments. “I’ve tried to be as accurate and honest as possible in my evaluations of the restaurants listed, and also gained pounds to prove it!”
He consulted with connoisseurs to make sure those whose criteria and knowledge of the industry he respects approved of his recommendations and evaluations. Nonetheless, the restaurant business is notoriously fickle, and establishments open and close with startling frequency. “Quality and service can fluctuate radically, often overnight. A restaurant is only as good as the last meal it serves,” Greenspan emphasizes.
Concisely written with vivid anecdotes, the guide is easy to negotiate and fun to read. Spanish translations by Tico Times editorial assistant Sonia Cordero accompany the English text and can even help you improve your Spanish vocabulary.
Greenspan covers the spectrum of culinary delights – from worldwide international cuisine in every price range to typical food, coffee shops, tapas places or sports bars with North American-style fare. The information on hours of operation and phone numbers is useful to insomniacs looking for 24-hour restaurants or early birds foraging for breakfast. Fast-food junkies are provided with an easy reference list of telephone numbers, locations and express delivery services.
Restaurants are rated on a scale of one to five spoons and cover the gamut from acceptable to exceptional. Prices are rated on a similar scale of one to five dollar signs, ranging from under $5 to more than $30 per person. They include 13% sales tax and 10% service charge but not alcoholic beverages or additional gratuities. A sun-face symbol indicates a particularly interesting atmosphere or that the restaurant stands out from its peers in terms of quality or service.
The “Best of” list covers all the regions in the guide and highlights “The Best,” “Most Romantic,” “Most Festive,” “Best Views” and “Best Value.” Brief descriptions of house specialties and ambience help you choose the perfect spot for any occasion, and 13 up-to-date maps assist in finding the location.
Three indexes make finding your way around the guide a piece of cake: alphabetical listing by name, spoon rating and type of cuisine. The useful numbers list – taxis, credit card companies, hospitals, movie theaters, museums and live theater – is an added bonus.
Greenspan has done a superb and seemingly impossible job in his appraisal of an eclectic choice of restaurants. Reading the guide will stimulate your taste buds and help solve your problem of deciding where to go for a quick bite or elegant dinner
