Costa Rica dining does not have to mean rice and beans for breakfast, lunch and dinner! And you don't have to eat in hotels or resorts to find great Costa Rica dining here. Just travel along Paseo Colon in San Jose and try this trio of international restaurants.
The Paseo Colon area, a few blocks east of Parque Sabana, is somewhat reminiscent of Manhattan’s Greenwich Village in the Seventies; you won't need a map or tourism guide to find it.
Only a five-minute taxi ride from downtown, the following restaurants are a block east (toward town) of the Mas x Menos supermarket. Also convenient if you are staying in a nearby hotel or resort, all are open for lunch from noon to 2:30 or 3:00, and dinner hours beginning around 5 PM.
Ana for Italian
In business for 50 years, this is a local favorite for Italian cuisine. The two-story building has three rooms, one of which is on the balcony overlooking Paseo Colon (cool at night, so bring a sweater.
While the prices average half those of nearby La Bastille, the food is better and the service, with elegantly attired waiters who speak English, even better. You can get a wide variety of pasta as well as Chateaubriand . The chef also offers nine fish dishes and seven varieties of shrimp, including "Colombiano," for 3,000-4,600.
The menu (great news -- it is in English and Spanish) starts off with no less than five pages of drinks, wine and champagne (Moet Chandon, for example). And there is a spacious bar upstairs, which also makes Ana's a nice place for just hanging out or meeting friends.
It is difficult to find a San Jose restaurant with such good food, reasonable prices, and outstanding service and atmosphere, so don't miss Ana when in San Jose. Fishing fans we know have raved about the pasta here. This also makes it a top spot for diving aficionados on their way to the beach the next day. Also if you plan on extensive hiking and nature tours
Lubna for Lebanese
Stepping through a canvas revolving door, you enter the fascinating world of the Middle East at Lubna, featuring Lebanese cuisine and ambiance. Fez-wearing waiters, Lebanese music and decor, and an assortment of unusual dishes make this an intriguing place for those seeking an adventurous meal.
They offer a filling executive lunch for 2400. If you are unfamiliar with Lebanese cuisine, you might go for the Mezza, a sample of various Lebanese dishes or a hearty plate of Lamb Shiskebob.
Vegetarians on vacation will go for the Bab Ghanny (fried eggplant, sesame seed, lemon sauce). The Warak Arish -- grape leaves stuffed with rice, ground meat and lemon -- is also a fun-filled food adventure. Polish off the meal with a bracing cup of Lebanese coffee, and the only thing missing is a red-hot hookah.
For Oriental cuisine in this area, we highly recommend Un Mil Sabors (1,000 flavors) on Paseo Colon. They also have a great lunch special, corvina (sea bass) for around $7. (You cannot buy and cook it at home for this price).
You can also find excellent dining opportunities for cuisine from Peru (Machu Picchu), Argentina and France in San Jose.
