Don't waste your moola!!

I am a self admitted travel guide junky. I have read my Costa Rica tour books cover to cover at least twice. I fully admit to reading (and believing) Trip Advisor almost daily. I believe I am a pro at reading through the bullshit reviews and the people, like me, who mean what they say. When I decided to travel to the Carribean coast of Costa Rica you would not believe the tireless hours I spent researching restaurants, places to visit, what hotels to book, etc. My BF thinks I'm borderline crazy when I do this. Just picking a new restaurant to try requires a search for my online foodie recommendations and since my BF's motto in life is "live easy"he doesn't understand my need for strangers approval on the places I go. Two places that came highly recommended for our trip to Puerto Viejo was Maxi's and Soda Tamara. The first being the place to get lobster and the second being a place where the locals like to eat. My guide books hailed them as places to not miss while on the Caribbean. I went to both and I will have to disagree with them. 


Maxi's has a great ambiance and very reggae caribbean feel to it. Its on the beach at the end of the road in Manzanillo and I think its definitely something you should see while in the area but food wise it didn't impress me. From blogs and guidebooks, the lobster here was supposed to be unbelievable. I ordered it at a little over $30 and I wish I hadn't wasted my money. The presentation with the full lobster shell is impressive but the meat was overcooked and tough. The only thing I genuinely liked on it was the light curry with onion sauce it was smothered in. We also ordered the rondon soup (its whatever the chef can "run down" and it usually consists of a meat, fish, vegetable combo) and the flavor was there but there wasn't many edible pieces in it.  I felt like I was scavenging for food amongst bones but the spicy coconut flavor of the broth slightly made up for that. Maxi's was overpriced and not nearly as good as people say. I would have much rather had beers and just enjoyed the beach view and Bob Marley ambiance.


Soda Tamara is supposed to be a local hotspot and not only did I only see tourists in there but the prices weren't really the local prices I expected. I ordered arroz con camarones (rice and shrimp caribbean style is made with coconut milk and differs from the rest of Costa Rica) and my fellow friends ordered fish, beans and rice. The portions were great but the food was just so-so. Nothing that you HAVE to try while in the Caribbean. I'll stick to my local sodas on the Pacific coast where prices are great and the food is comforting. 


My guidebooks, online reviewers and foodies have let me down on these two places. I'd skip them on your next visit to Puerto Viejo. There is much better food to be had. (read future blog posts)