DOMA ESCALANTE — Restaurant in Carmen

A Night at Doma: Where Art, Fashion, and Friendship Blend Seamlessly Doma, nestled in the heart of Escalante, offers more than just a meal—it’s an experience that envelops you in a world of artistry, flavor, and warmth. From the moment Yvonne and I arrived, we were welcomed into the space not just as guests, but as family. Oscar and Adrian, the heart and soul of Doma, have opened their doors to us since our return to Costa Rica, and each visit has been an exploration of both fine dining and friendship. Their genuine hospitality, infused with a deep passion for food, art, and fashion, makes Doma feel like a home away from home. The evening began with a delightful degustation menu, where each dish was paired with carefully selected wines that elevated the entire experience. While the food itself—delicate oysters from Nicoya, prosciutto with roasted heart of palm, and a perfectly balanced steak tartare—was extraordinary, it was the atmosphere that made the night unforgettable. Oscar and Adrian's attention to detail, from the carefully curated art collection to the exquisite design of the space, provided a backdrop of beauty and inspiration that was felt in every corner. Doma’s art collection, known as the Toribio-Ulibarri Collection, is a testament to their commitment to supporting both emerging and established Latin American artists. Oscar and Adrian’s passion for art is evident in the thoughtful pieces displayed throughout the restaurant, many of which rotate between their home and the space. This collection is a living, breathing embodiment of their love for culture and a vision to create a lasting legacy. In fact, they’re working towards expanding it to one day contribute to a contemporary art museum, showcasing the best of Latin American art. In addition to the culinary and artistic experience, Doma also features a boutique fashion shop with the sustainable creations of Toribio and Donato. Their designs, which stand out not only for their beauty but also for their commitment to sustainability, offer a glimpse into the future of fashion in Costa Rica. The shop, as part of the overall experience, invites you to sip a glass of sparkling wine while you explore the exquisite designs—each piece a testament to creativity, ethics, and craftsmanship. What truly sets Doma apart, though, is the sense of belonging that Oscar and Adrian so effortlessly cultivate. Their close friendship with us is a reflection of how they make everyone feel: valued, welcomed, and seen. The service at Doma is always personal. Staff remember our names, our preferences, and even Chloe’s, and there’s a warmth in the air that makes you feel like you’re not just a customer but a part of the Doma family. It’s a rare and beautiful quality, one that they extend to all their guests, ensuring that every visit feels like a return to a place where you truly belong. Doma is more than a restaurant—it is a celebration of friendship, art, and design, where every visit becomes a part of a larger, unfolding story. With Oscar and Adrian at the helm, Doma is not just a space to dine, but a place where the spirit of Costa Rica, its art, and its people are woven together into a tapestry that leaves you feeling both nourished...

Richard as a chef keeps delivering incredible plates with impeccable presentation. However this restaurant strays a bit from what we have come to expect in terms of service and some of the latest plates keep the high price tags with smaller portions that sour the experience as a whole.

Since the restaurant is very new I hope the service improves a lot. To those that visited Park Cafe the delivery of the plates was one of the highlights of the experience, with every plate delivered at once and explained in detail; it elevated the dining experience to the next level. However at Doma we had plates come at different times, some people received their second plates before others had even received their first. And the explanations of each plate were as printed on the menu. When asked for recommendations the server practically recommended every item on the menu. There was little follow up for reordering drinks apart from topping off the water. And we were not asked for dessert after finishing the dishes, had to call the server for it. This I could accept in a lower class restaurant, but every detail takes away from the experience. The worst part was check took over 30minutes (we counted) to arrive after ordering it.

When it comes to the food itself it is a tough review. The flavors totally deliver, but the place recommends we order the dishes to share, however the portions are so small there is very little to share. If you order the lamb chops for example you get a single lamb chop, and upon receiving it even the server stated "don't share it, cause it's a small portion", it's one of the higher priced items by the way. Presentation also gets in the way here, even though it is very nice, it's clearly not meant for sharing, each plate is clearly a single unit meant for one person.

With that being said the food is still top notch, each dish comes together beautifully.

On the drinks side we tried the ginger mojito and it was regular, nothing to be excited about. Same with the natural drinks. You would probably be better off ordering wine.

If you keep all of the above in mind (be prepared for the price to portion sticker shock) it's worth a visit for the food alone, although maybe give them some time to get the service sorted.

Word of advice we tried nearly half the menu and consensus in the table was the lower priced items were worth way more than the higher priced ones, both in...

Beautiful restaurant. Food is hit or miss. Great service. Pricey menu.

Pulpo Ceviche - 3/5 Lamb & Ravioli - 3/5 Red Snapper & Ravioli - 5/5 Japanese Cheesecake - 4/5

The restaurant itself is beautiful. Nice vibes. Very cool. Service is great but my waiter seemed to push all the expensive dishes. Most weren’t good. The pulpo ceviche was his recommendation and it did not smell fresh. The taste was okay. (Should have ordered the veal carpaccio instead). He recommended the lamb dish, the most expensive item on the menu. It was not good. The lamb was cold and not cooked properly. And the portion to price was laughable. A tiny little lamb chop, 5 raviolis, and a few pieces of spinach all for $40 usd. Dish was worth about $20 usd or should have at least had two lamb chops. I had to order a second entree because it was not filling at all. The red snapper was phenomenal. Amazing flavors. Great value and a lot of delicious meat. The ravioli for both dishes were very fresh, and great flavors. (If I had ordered this first, I would have been satisfied). The dessert was okay. Light, fluffy, Japanese cheesecake. But was a small portion to price ratio. Almost $10 usd for a little piece of cake. I noticed down the street they sell an entire Japanese cheesecake for the same price as this restaurant charges for a single slice…all in all, very disappointed in this restaurant. It seems like most restaurants are like this one in Barrio Escalante. Overpriced, small portions...