FOOD

BREAKFAST

The place to eat breakfast is at Chatty Cathy's Family Kitchen Cafe, opposite of banco Nacional. Cathy , a lovable Canadian, serves traditional North american breakfasts, granola with fruit and yogurt, gallo pinto , and kid's breakfast. Open Wed.- Sun. 6:30 a.m.-2 p.m. A good alternative is Sunrise Breakfast Place, serving waffles, eggs benedict, omelettes, and more. It's open 7 a.m. -noon.

The open-air, 24-hour Lighthouse Point Steak and Seafood House, is the place to be in town and also serves wholesome American breakfasts (from buttermilk pancakes to vegetable omelets). It also serves up great music and ambience, with roughhewn polished furniture, walls and ceilings festooned with surfboards and stuffed game fish. The far-reaching menu runs from sushi, "monster" subs, burgers, to expensive casados (set luncheons), Thai shrimp, crocodile nuggets, oriental stir fry, and a full mexican menu. It also has smoothies and other frozen drinks.

FOR CHEAP EATS

Soda el Tucán serves gallo pinto breakfasts and seafood dinners such as ceviche, and shrimp and rice.

Banana Café is a simple rancho serving burgers, sandwiches, and chinese stir fry. Another simple yet preferred spot is La Moncha del Pacifico, with a pleasing ambience. It's large menu includes an excellent tuna salad, plus burgers, cheap casados, smoothies, and banana splits. It's torch lit in the evening. For an offbeat option, eat at the Estrella de David, with rustic campesino decor and cuisine for under $10. If you feel like chicken, head over to the open-air La Esquina del Pollo, opposite Banco Popular, and serving chicken roasted in a traditional oven.

SEAFOOD?

At the north end, the beachfront Resturante Santimos serves ceviche, seafood, and inexpensive casados. Marisquería Raquel is a seafood resturante at the entrance to town. In the center of Jacó is a budget Marisqueria El Recreo, opposite Banco Nacional, where a seafood platter of jumbo shrimp or lobster costs only $9. Terraza el Hicaco is one of the nicest places: modestly elegant, open-air, and facing the ocean, fittingly it serves seafood.

MORE PLACES TO EAT...

La hacienda - a popular marisquería serving steak and lobster.
Tangerí - an elegant open-air eatery serving filet-mignon and whole fried snapper.
Pancho Villa - opposite of Banco Popular, serves surf n' Turf, and seafood fettuccine, but also has Mexican delights, sushi, and such specialties as vinaigrette chicken with honey.
Resturante La Ostra - serves churrasco and lobster (including soup) on a quaint patio; arroz chaufa especial, lomito saltido and other peruvian dishes in a shady patio setting.

PIZZA

Bar Restaurant Colonial - another open-air, elegant place to eat. It specializes in pastas and pizzas, and has espressos, lattes, cappuccinos, a wide ice-cream menu, and superb homemade lemonade. It also has happy hour.
Pizza Hut - located in Plaza Jacó. In the heart of the town.
Wishbone Pizza - tasty quesadillas, burritos and pasta.
Caliches Pizza - tasty burritos (closed wednesday), in Centro Comerical El Paso.
Congo's Pizza - large menu of pizza's, also offers burgers, burritos, and other Mexican fare; open monday through Friday, closed on tuesday; open noon to 9 p.m.

AGAIN MORE PLACE TO EAT...

Villa Creole - offering some of the finest cuisine in town: check out the curry creole shrimp, coq au vin, or sashimi. It's open high season only.
Hotel Poseidon - an elegant resturante with a French menu, serving dishes such as marlin ceviche and brocheta wrapped in bacon with veggies.
La Bruja - toward the north end of town, is another elegant, thatched, hacienda-style eatery.
Miravalles Naturales - you can buy health foods here, just 15o feet south of Centro Comercial El Paso. It also serves ice cream and fruit juices.
Pop's - a modern, clean ice cream shop.

Much of the information on our site as it relates to Costa Rica is:

Courtesy of Christopher P. Baker and Avalon Travel Publishing.
© 2004 Christopher P. Baker. All Rights Reserved.

Spanish Abroad, Inc. highly recommends Christopher P. Baker's book: Moon Handbooks Costa Rica. Click on the image to visit his website where you can purchase this book or find out more about the author.