Restaurants
--Sol y Mar: at the bottom of the hill from our place, about 200 yds. Great Tican food, very low key and most things we have had there are good…service gets spotty when they are busy.
--Mar y Sol: the best place around 4+stars----go into Flamingo, turn right up the hill about a kilometer, entrance is on your right. Chef is Jean-luc, tell him we sent you…happy hour drink specials with an amazing view from 4 on, dinner is fantastic. He will also cater to our place. French/American, everything we have had has been good with first class service and wine list. (www.marysolflamingo.com)
--Arabian restaurant: across from Sol Y Mar, in the shopping plaza, we have not tried it, has good hooka hangout, please let us know.
--Las Brisas: come down hill, at soccer field go straight instead of turning left, in about 50 yards you are on the beach, place is on the right. Used to be good, has gotten very pricey for drinks and food, but your right on the beach.
--Belgian restaurant: half way back to Becky's on the left side-B&B and restaurant that is great for breakfast.
--Near Becky's-we have not eaten at the Shack or Cholupa. Castle bakery is spotty on food, great on karaoke night and drinks. Upstairs from the little grocery store on the third floor-excellent pizza from the chefs who used to cook at Marco Polo. Good drinks, try all the pizzas!
--Marie's—in Flamingo, don't go up the hill, go straight and park in 75 yards, restaurant is under the thatched roof at the bottom of the shopping center. Breakfast is great here, shrimp omellete or the spuds and sauce dish. Lunch is good here too.
--Local Flavor—don't even know if it has a name….coming from our place onto the paved road at the Flamingo/Potrero split, turn right as if going to Flamingo. In about 100 yards, the road turns left along the ocean, and there is a restaurant on the corner ?dorado?...any way, just before this restaurant there is a dirt track to your right-go about 80yds, and the place is at the end, on the beach…sit under palm umbrellas and they have the best whole pargo (red snapper-fried whole) around—CASH only.
--Happy Snapper-as you are on the way into Brasilito, there is a stop/right turn—Happy Snapper is on your left. The most 'American" style restaurant, food is good to great (try the shrimp soup) but quite pricy—this the goto place for most foreign companies for client ent and corp parties.
--El Dorado-had you gone straight at the stop sign into the parking lot…good seafood, great ambiance for romantic dinner literally right on the beach (they bring out a finger bowl to wash your hands before and after the meal) but runs pricey for family outing; dinner only.
--Outback Jacks-go to Brasilito, just before the bridge turn right along the soccer field, park at the end (you are the ocean) and the place is on your left. Good all around, natchos, burgers, omelets, sandwiches etc. Great view of the ocean. (If you kept going left you would go to beach at Conchal)
--There is a place in Brasilito called Horno-across the bridge on the left, have never been there but lots of locals swear by it.
--Guany-take the road toward huacas, and just after you turn left at the dead end it is on the left—good Comida Tipica-Tican food (usually rice, beans, and some meat/protein—unlike Mexican local food is not spicy, but they will give you hot sauce on the table)
Mentioned eating at Playa Grande and Avellanas under beaches.
--Bulla Bulla hotel—go to Playa Grande, turn left at Frijoles Locos and go about 2 miles on dirt road, place is on your right (dead ahead is the water taxi to Tamarindo, so stop or float…) Food is good, their signature drink is a Waltini-ingredients secret-after two driving will be a challenge.
If the kids need a Burger King, McDonalds or Subway fix, these are all in Liberia……….
There are large numbers of hotels/restaurants in Tamarindo, nothing that stands out.
If you go into Santa Cruz, there is a good Mexican restaurant in the main square-Honda.
If you go into Liberia, there is a great Mexican place on the main square, as you are driving in, park at the church and look to your right it is upstairs-can't remember the name but very good food.
(?) Honorable Mention: as you drive from Potrero to Becky's, just before you make the right to Becky's there is a white building/bar on your right called Perla's………Wed night karaoke, happy hour drink specials—this is an adult DRINKING bar, the resident alkies live here….bar is going to be owned by friends of ours in April, and will by run by Connie's brother Bobby-if you were to go there, you may see him……FYI they serve food here, but….they don't have hot water so…………..
