Fodor's Expert Review El Descanso
The kind of extraordinary restaurant you hope to stumble on in the most unlikely place, this intimate five-table wood-and-bamboo dining room is presided over by chef Esteban Acuña, whose family owns the attached small hotel. Drawing on his California training, Acuña gives local ingredients contemporary twists, flavored with herbs from the adjoining garden. Creamy soups are a meal in themselves. Trout, tuna, chicken, and tofu arrive in curry, vodka, red wine, and wasabi sauces. Desserts are delectable, so save some room.
Quick Facts
Hwy. 242
San Isidro,
San José
Costa Rica
2256–0304
- Mushroom-and-herb-stuffed whole trout
- Creamy soups, cold and hot
- Chocolate volcano flourless cake