Lunch - Chirinquitos Del Rio Restaurante & Bar, Grecia, Costa Rica

Today we returned for a second time to have lunch at Chirinquitos Del Rio Restaurante & Bar. I wrote a previous post about our first visit to this restaurant and you can read it here.

The setting above and beside the river is so nice. Because we have had so much rainfall this green season the river was full and running fast. The sound of it is nice to hear.

Their menu is quite extensive and I remembered how large the lunch portions were so this time we decided to order bocas, thinking the dishes would be more snack size and we could try several types.

Well folks, at this restaurant they are definitely NOT pequeño (small) dishes. We started with sangria. Even these are very generous sized. Lance ordered arroz con camarones and gallo de pescado. I too had the gallo de pescado and also the chifrijo de chicharrón, one of my favourite dishes.

Lance’s choices translate to shrimp with rice and breaded fish on a small corn tortilla. Both dishes came with chips and a salad. The rice was loaded with shrimp. My chifrijo is best explained here.

The sangria:

My gallo de pescada (and Lance ordered the same dish):

Lance’s arroz con camarones: 

And my chifrijo:

So, as the photos show, it was a lot of food and we brought a good deal of it home to enjoy tomorrow.

While up at the cashier, we met a customer from the U.S.A. who had brought his beautiful English cocker spaniel to lunch with him and a friend (it’s not unusual here to see dogs and cats in restaurants - some of them live there). Well of course I had to make friends with this doggie, whose name is Junior. Outside at our cars, we had a good chat about what brought us to Costa Rica. He was of like mind and had the same mantra as we do - “if not now, when?”. He was a pharmacist and, while counting out pills every day, he pondered on making the move and then did it. We all agreed that this is our home now and we have no intentions of leaving.

Lunch - Chirinquitos del Rio, Grecia, Costa Rica

Lance discovered a new restaurant and we ate lunch there yesterday. It is the Chirinquitos del Rio, situated beside the Rio Rosales, El Poró, Grecia.

It’s located in a lovely setting right beside the river Rosales. As is usual in Costa Rica, the restaurant is open sided so the fresh tropical breezes blow through. Lots of greenery around the eating areas makes for a cool interior.

First order of business - drinks - sangria for two. Service is prompt and friendly.

For my meal, I ordered the traditional chifrijo de chicharrón:

It was excellent. The pork was tender, with beans, rice, avocado balls on top, tomatoes, etc. Very large portion so I asked for para llevar (for take away) for half of it. 

Lance opted for the chalupa with chicken:

Inside the giant masa shell was shredded chicken, refried black beans, and cheese. The link I have provided above refers to authentic Mexican chalupas which seem to be made differently then Costa Rican ones. Nevertheless, Lance said it was delicious.

The restaurant grounds are really nice so we walked around a bit after our meal.

A lily pond:

Orchids:

Staghorn fern:

Bananas for the kitchen:

Menu:

Staff wear masks and there are hand washing stations. There is a parking attendant on duty. We were the first to arrive but the restaurant started filling up quickly after that.

Highly recommend this restaurant.

Click on images to enlarge.

Lunch - Botijas, Grecia, Costa Rica

 Last Sunday, our choice of restaurant for lunch was Botijas in Grecia. They have a cool logo:

I can’t find a clear translation of the name. But no matter - it’s the food and service that counts. And they are a ten on both counts!

Again, as per usual in Costa Rica, the entrance to the restaurant is unassuming. They have a Covid-19 hand washing station and all staff were wearing masks, as - of course - were we. 

We were greeted by the chef (I think), who introduced himself and showed us around the eating areas. The restaurant stretches quite a way to the back, with lots of seating. We chose a table at the rear. The decor is funky - lots of colour, mismatched chairs and tables, interesting photographs on the walls. We spied Anthony Bourdain featured in a couple of pictures.

After being seated, we were given our menus and glasses of ice water with lime slices. I already knew what I wanted to order because I had perused the menu online beforehand. First order of business - red wine sangria!

The portions were generous as you can see.

They grow their own herbs and greens in flats and several times I saw cooks coming out to snip off pieces for a meal they were preparing.

Lance ordered the pechuga de pollo al curry New Delhi style:

I had a taste of Lance’s curry and it was very tasty. It came with an additional separate sauce surrounded by sesame seeds.

And for me it was the Seis Dos, Hong Kong style:

Presentations were beautiful. Both meals were delicious. Look at the kumquats with basil leaves inserted in them! My protein was pork. At the bottom of the stack were flat rice noodles, then bok choy and other greens, the pork and then crispy rice noodles. 

This is our new favourite restaurant. Highly recommend that you give it a try. 

Click on images to enlarge.

Lunch - Behind Closed Doors

Yesterday - Saturday - was our day for eating lunch at a new-to-us restaurant.

It was my turn to select a restaurant and my choice was Los Jardines Vivero y Café. This restaurant is next door to Super Rosvil El Liceo where I would be able to pick up a few groceries after lunch.

As is quite typical in Costa Rica, you cannot judge a “book by its cover”. This is what the entranceway to the restaurant looks like when it is closed (from their menu cover):

It’s just an unassuming brown wooden gate. You wouldn’t give it much more then a passing glance driving by. Once the gates are open, it is the most charming place.

Whoever designed and executed this restaurant is very creative. Tables are set out in nooks and crannies all over the place, mostly outdoors and with rain coverage such as umbrellas. Everywhere I looked I saw something whimsical and unexpected.

The staff are very friendly, welcoming and attentive. The restaurant opens at 11:30 am and I suggest getting there at that time, which is what we did. It started filling up fast closer to noon. 

We started with sangria:

We both ordered paninis. Lance chose ham and cheese:

And I chose mushrooms and pesto:

The yellow sauce is mustard and mayo and it’s for dipping the chips in which, by the way, are really good. Before our main courses arrived, we were presented with a plate of plantain chips with a warm bean dip on the side - gratis.

Neither of us could finish our paninis so we asked for para llevar (take away) and that will be our dinner tonight with a salad.

I know that Grecia expats meet here most Wednesdays for lunch. 

Highly recommend this restaurant. They require Covid-19 compliance - temperature measurement, hand washing and mask wearing. Masks can be removed when you sit down.

Click on images to enlarge.