Vegan-friendly
Lacto
Pizza
Italian
Western
Non-veg
Serves meat, vegan options available. Restaurant at Casa Paraiso Hotel Playa Samara. Large terrace, lounge music, close to the beach. Specialties include lasagna blanca de platano, curry paradise, karma rice, ahora si gratin, carrot cake. Relocated from 150 metros despues ICE, CR 5235 Open Mon-Sun 12:00pm-2:00pm, 5:00pm-9:00pm.
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Via Arriba y Ruta Nacional Secundaria 160, Samara, Costa Rica
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Last update on 04 Dec 2023 by shakes13t
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16 Reviews
First Review by lauraya
shakes13t
Points +97
Excellent - Edit
*Via Arriba and Ruta Nacional Secundaria 160 is the new location, about 1/2 block from the RindeMás supermarket*
Read moreExcellent food, warm staff, lots of repeat customers.
We almost walked by because we didn't see much on the menu that would be vegan, but I decided to ask anyway, and they pointed out a few things that were vegan, including the mushroom ravioli, which was listed as having eggs on the menu. They said they recently changed the recipe. They also offered to make something off-menu which was so sweet.
We had a spaghetti with veggies, olives and capers, and the veggies were cooked to perfection- not too soft but still well-cooked and well-seasoned. We all fought over the broccoli.
The mushroom ravioli was exquisite, and a very generous portion, which is unusual with time-consuming ravioli.
The surprising winner, though, was the Pasta e Cecci, which we make at home often, but will certainly never make the same way again. I thought at first that it had tortilla strips in it. Okay, strange, but, wow, actually delicious because the crispy, roasty, fried strips complemented the earthy, soft chickpeas perfectly. I asked the owner and she said it was her grandmother's recipe from Puglia! So, probably fried linguini, not corn chips, lol . I've never had anything like it, and we couldn't stop eating it.
The bruschetta was also incredible, finding the perfect balance of fresh and light with rich and satisfying.
Even the lemonade was perfect. They make it fresh to order, and it was not very sweet, but still definitely lemonade, not lemon water.
The wine was reportedly "like being back in Italy" and they brought out books for the kids, then took them back when the food arrived and instructed the kids to focus on eating. It was all perfect. We would go there all the time if we lived here.
Updated from previous review on 2023-11-28
Pros: The food, The staff, The food
Cons: Wish it was all vegan?, No dessert, but we found vegan gelato elsewhere
Guest
rytilton
Points +106
Many vegan choices - Edit
Mushroom ravioli was great. Chick pea pasta was a bit too oily but still good. Plantain gnocchi was yummy as well. Staff was friendly.
Read moreGuest
phonebox13
Points +647
Everybody’s welcome - Edit
This place will welcome you with open arms. The owners are very friendly. They have a labeled menu with vegan items.
Read moreTheir Pasta al Cece with chickpeas is their grandmas recipe and it is suuuuper delicious!
Guest
kyoungbird
Points +1779
Stop by if you’re in the area! - Edit
Many vegan/veggie options clearly labeled on menu. Delicious food. Vegan desserts. Card or cash
Read morePros: Lots of vegan options , Cute inspirational quotes , Good prices
Guest
johnnie fargo
Points +43
Great Italian food in Samara - Edit
How can you go wrong with home made
Read moreGuest
JulianaCasati
Points +3923
Many vegan options! - Edit
This place is great, there are so many vegan options and they are all clearly marked so in the menu. Staff is very friendly and accommodating, speak many languages and are knowledgeable about veganism. It was difficult to choose among the many options of pasta, but Pasta Ceci was really tasty! They only had one vegan dessert available (there are four on the menu) but it was also delicious. Well worth it in general! Portions are not too big.
Read moreGuest
chelssjh
Points +298
LOVE - Edit
Favorite place in Samara because there are just so many vegan options and they’re all delicious.
Read morePros: Lots of options , Creative menu
Cons: Can be a bit slow
Guest
PiaKay
Points +1000
Super nice service and plenty of vegan options - Edit
The menu was full of vegan options. We were a bigger group with 3 raw vegans and the nice waiter was very patient with us. The place is filled with nice quotes about life and feels very cozy. The owner Silvia is super nice and her staff was as well. We enjoyed a raw vegan version of one of the salads. Could have been a little bit bigger, but to be fair... No one really understands how much raw vegans need to eat.. so all in all it was a great experience! Thank you!
Read morePros: Many vegan options , Super nice owner and staff , Beautiful place
Cons: Salads could have been bigger
Guest
Ciad
Points +1520
Many Vegan Options - Edit
Great restaurant in Samara. I liked how it's decorated. The food was very good, but on the small side, portion-wise. A good place to meet some cats.
Read morePros: Wall decorations, Cats
Cons: Smaller portions
Guest
Lizjm
Points +52
Best Restaurant in our 3 Weeks in Costa Rica - Edit
We spent three weeks in Costa Rica. This was by far the best restaurant of the trip. We went for dinner here every night that we stayed in Sámara. There were so many vegan options on the menu. The food was outstanding. All of the dishes are made from scratch and the delicious pasta is made in house. I would go there for the pasta alone - no sauce. Just that good. But of course the sauce is amazing! My husband’s favourite recipe was the vegan chickpea and fried pasta dish that the Italian restaurant owner Sylvia makes. That recipe is her grandmother’s. My favourite dish was the vegan bolognese. We brought my Dad along with us, and his favourite dish was the eggplant parmesan, which Sylvia joked if he didn’t finish eating she would - needless to say he left the plate clean. Dad has tried to recreate the dish back in Canada many times. Sylvia is such a kind a warm-hearted person, and her vegetarian restaurant is so welcoming. I was touched by many of the beautiful quotes painted intricately on the walls or written into spaces on the pages of the menu. The app prevented a five star rating, but it deserves five stars! Highly recommend this restaurant! :)
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2020-05-28
Pros: Delicious food, Many vegan options, Great atmosphere and host
Cons: None - it’s a wonderful jem
Guest
theresaCR
Points +60
Deliciosa - Edit
I like the vegan pasta con garbanzos and fried pasta. Soooo deliciosa. And the vegan brownies are very good
Read moreGuest
shepoz
Points +25
Deserves 5 stars - Edit
A lot of Italian vegetarian, vegan and raw food options on menu. Amazing chickpea fettuccine, great gnocchi and desserts with pleasant service. Restaurant is a bit away from the rest of Samara but well worth the walk! 2 visits so far and I’ll come back. app prevented 5 star rating
Read morePros: Taste and flavour, Serving sizes = filling , Relaxed/bohemian vibe
Guest
dhbooker
Points +77
Okay place for vegan dinner - Edit
We ate here twice while in Samara. Our 2 year old loved the vegan bolognese and my husband and I tried the vegan curry, rice and beans, and linguine with tomato sauce/veggies. We would say the food was average but a plus was that the menu was clearly marked with vegan options, which there were quite a few of. The bruschetta bread was very good. Prices were moderate.
Read morePros: Clear vegan options
Cons: Added fee to use credit card, Staff not very friendly/happy
Guest
+++VeGaNiSaToR+++
Points +1004
not vegetarian - Edit
They have a partership with the bar next to them. You can order fish who is cooked on the bar's BBQ and for customers who order fish to the bar, Ahora si make the rest of the dish.
Read moreFood was ok but we had the smell of burned fish ...
Cons: fish
Guest
springhuepfer
Points +191
not convincing - Edit
We've had curry and lasagne, curry was alright but not superb, lasagne was microved heated and served not warm. Meals came not together, had to wait long. No salads that night, options limited. Too expensive for this quality.
Read morePros: nice ambiente, friendly staff
Cons: not so delicious, uses microvave
Guest
lauraya
Points +24
A very good place to go for a meal ! - Edit
My boyfriend, vegetarien, and I, vegan, were in Costa Rica in April 2011. I had a curry paradise, an organic mango smoothie and an coconut ice cream every thing was great ! The owner is very nice too, very friendly! Even if it's easy to eat vegan in costa rica, you must go there if you visit Samara !
Read morePros: healthy cuisine, friendly staff, organic and home made food
Cons: make sure everything is vegan
Guest
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