El Lagarto - Puntarenas

The wood-fired grill and fresh ingredients, including local fish, octopus, and sweets, made this dining experience unforgettable. We thoroughly enjoyed our dinner.

The restaurant has a beautiful western ambiance with excellent cocktails and a selection of wines. The unique dining experience allows guests to cook their food over a coal grill at their table. The steak was decent, but lacked a crispy crust and flavor. However, the shrimp was large, perfectly cooked, and flavorful. The side dishes of sweet potatoes were tasty but overly reliant on garlic. Overall, the experience was reminiscent of a mid-range steakhouse. I would return for the setting rather than the food.

During our 9-night stay in Manuel Antonio, this restaurant was our favorite. We dined here twice and were impressed by the fabulous beef tenderloin, which we found to be better seasoned than the ribeye. The dish was delicately cooked and served perfectly. The prosciutto and melon starters were our favorite appetizers and were truly great.

Fabulous bbq restaurant that was a really good experience, everything is cooked on the grill. the garlic head was soft and gently carburized. the surfing and shaking was cooked to perfection, the lobster was moist and the steak medium was rare as ordered, the baked potatoes were for dying. the cocktail menu was extensive and the staff was very friendly. we want to go back.

They handled our large group of 8 very efficiently and we all had wonderful food and drinks. The ribs, fish and shrimp were all great, and the best baked potato I've ever had! We loved the wood platters that food was served on. Be sure...to notice the unique flooring in the restaurant.