PATAGONIA RESTAURANT
Tamarindo has some amazing restaurants. Since it is such a great vacation spot, it attracts chefs that make Tamarindo home. Some restaurants are around for a while and others come and go. Here is a list of our favorite restaurants that we have visited over the years and are still around today.
PIZZERIA LA BAULA. $$. There has to be a good pizza restaurant on everyone’s list. Pizza is something to be enjoyed while on vacation. I will admit, I don’t eat much pizza at home, but on vacation, I do enjoy a good pizza. All my healthy eating habits get thrown out the window on vacation. Pizzeria La Baula is a great spot for families. It’s an outdoor restaurant with a huge pizza menu and salads. The pizza is delicious. Salads are good. They also serve wine. I love that they have a playground to keep the kids busy. This place is a must go if you have kids and love pizza. It’s a little tricky getting there but ask for directions, it’s much easier that way. They are open every night at 5:30pm. https://m.facebook.com/PizzeriaLaBaula/.
PATAGONIA ARGENTINIAN GRILL. $$$. What’s life without a good steak? In my opinion, life would be very dull. I love a good steak and Patagonia serves up some good meat. The menu is varied, they offer some vegetarian dishes, salads, pasta plates, milanesas and desserts and of course, their famous Argentinian grill. They also have a good wine list and sangria. Patagonia fills up and it’s best to make a reservation. It’s a good spot for lunch and dinner. My favorite is the milanesa or steak with chimichurri and fries. Sometimes the service can be slow but you are guaranteed a great meal. https://m.facebook.com/patagoniagrillcr/
“The only time to be eating diet food is while you’re waiting for the steak to cook.”
Julia Child
PANGAS BEACH CLUB. $$$$. When we are looking for a great meal and to watch the sunset, we head straight to Pangas Beach Club. My husband and I feel like this may be one of the more expensive restaurants in Tamarindo but it is still one of my favorite spots. It is located on the north end of town and it’s a bit of a walk but well worth it. We have watched some amazing sunsets from Pangas. It is located just south of the mouth of the Estuary. The menu is mainly comprised of steak, lobster and seafood. The drinks are delicious and they have beer on tap that my husband enjoys. My favorite meal here is the tuna tower and the steak you can cook on a lava rock, it’s a little dangerous but fun. My kids love it too. Make sure to make a reservation and to bring your bug repellent! There are a lot of pesky mosquitoes around the beach at dusk. https://www.facebook.com/PangasTamarindo/
LA PACHANGA. $$. Everyone loves Italian food and this restaurant is always on our list. I will never forget this restaurant, when my youngest daughter, Lola, was gluten-free, the owner went out of his way to order gluten-free pasta for her when it wasn’t on the menu. The service here is excellent and the food is excellent. They have daily specials and the pasta dishes are amazing. They have beer and wine. I usually order the daily fish special and a salad and my kids love the pasta. You will not be disappointed.
https://m.facebook.com/pages/category/Italian-Restaurant/La-Pachanga-180559498708953/
EL MERCADITO DE TAMARINDO. $$. This is a new food court located behind Patagonia Restaurant. There are multiple restaurant stands and several bars with lots of seating around all the stands. Just to name a few, there’s Coffee, Hamburger, Mini-Patagonia, Asian, Japanese, Noodle, Crepe, and Ice Cream stands. It’s perfect for anyone that is having a hard time deciding on where to eat. As a note of caution, this is a public place and cell phones should never be left on any table. Same goes for purses, do not leave them hanging on a chair. Our good friend had her bag stolen from right under our noses in Tamarindo a few years ago.
SODA EL BUEN COMER. $. My husband and I both agree that the most affordable option in Tamarindo is to eat at a soda. A soda is a simple open-air restaurant that serves typical Costa Rican cuisine. The basic plate is called a “casado” which is a marriage of rice, beans, a salad and a protein of your choice. Most sodas have options of chicken, fish and beef. My favorite is the fish casado. Most of the locals eat at sodas because they are affordable and serve a delicious meal.
What type of food do you like to eat while on vacation? Do you enjoy typical cuisine or would you rather stick with what you eat at home? Please let me know what your thoughts are about this post!
