Restaurante Silvestre

I loved my experience here, because, as with most tasting menus, I enjoyed the connection to the chef and the story. I didn't love the taste of every dish, but I did appreciate each one and the concept. My drink was great and I enjoyed the vibe.

I was served by Jesus and David last night. I did the tasting menu and it was so beautifully executed. The chef beautifully presented the story of Costa Rica. Jesus delivered it excellently. With every dish, he gave me a little token to add to a topographic map of Costa Rica. I don’t eat pork, shellfish or drink alcohol. In most restaurants, that feels like an inconvenience or I’m made to feel that I’m missing out. The team easily replaced pork items with beef and served me a non alcoholic pairing menu. I really appreciated their efforts in making it so comfortable for me.

I made a reservation for a late lunch here only to discover two things: 1. It wasn’t packed (which I’m surprised by) and 2. If you want the tasting menu, it’s recommended you allow for 2-3 hours for the experience, so book an early lunch or just go for dinner. I went a la carte but the servers still provided some information about some of the dishes I ordered. Everything tasted AMAZING and there was so much still left on the menu that I wanted to try, I strongly considered making another booking to come back. This restaurant was my favorite in San Jose! Don’t skip out on this.

Our server appeared to be the head waitress and was managing at least four tables, including two with rather large groups. As a result, it was quite challenging to get her attention throughout the evening. We noticed that other guests who were seated after us received water, cocktails, and a thorough explanation of the menu before we did. This made us feel somewhat overlooked, as if we were seated in a corner and forgotten for much of our meal. Unfortunately, this impacted my overall experience at the restaurant. On a brighter note, the oxtail empanada was the standout dish of the night; it was absolutely delicious and bursting with flavor. We also tried the beef ribs and a vegetarian dish featuring jackfruit. Both were decent, but neither left a lasting impression. For dessert, we opted for a mango dish and carrot cake. The mango dish had a burnt (I think it was meant to be carmelized) element on top that overpowered all the other flavors, making it hard to enjoy. The carrot cake was dense, slightly oily, and just okay. I appreciate the creativity and ambition behind this restaurant, and I genuinely wish them the best. With a few adjustments to service and refinement of some dishes, I believe they have the potential to offer a great dining experience.

Very exquisite dining experience. Bit expensive. (I didn't like the spices in the pork brioche but it was very nicely done - switched with wife). The deep fried tres leche cake dessert was phenomenal.

Great and unique food offering! If you are looking for something different to eat, with a great service and atmosphere, this is your place!

It was an experience more than just dinner. We were a group of 8 and 4 of us were vegetarians (no eggs). We picked the tasting menu. Not only did the Chef meet our dietary requirements, but he made sure we all had a wonderful experience. Every dish had a personal story. It was 100% worth every pretty penny we spent. Multiple courses came one after the other and we dined for a full 3 hours. Fantastic experience!!

The tasting menu was a journey through Costa Rica, complete with a gifted map. The food and service was exceptional. The teams love for what they do and create comes through.