Ronny's Place Restaurante — Restaurant in Quepos

Absolutely fabulous sunset views. Good idea to make a reservation if you want to see them - around 5:30 every evening.

White wine sangria was excellent, not sweet at all. Jalapeno margarita was well made, nice dollop of muddled jalapeno on the bottom.

We shared the watermelon gazpacho, which has tomato in it, plus the normal ingredients, in a nice watermelon base.

I had the "Ronnys Place super chicken brochette" (about $17 US), skewered bacon wrapped grilled chicken with peppers and onions and a "tasty sauce made with tropical fruits". Tough to go wrong with this, but they up the game with a hanging skewer device on a wood cutting board that is unique and draws comments from the crowd who, like me, had never seen one. Served with really well prepared mixed vegetables and mashed potatoes, which were very different - orange, but not sweet, very creamy. I was expecting normal mashies, and these were a very nice surprise. The tropical fruit sauce was sweet and chunky, a nice complement the the bacon wrapped chicken chunks.

When we reviewed the menu before choosing Ronny's, my dinner companion wanted the BBQ pork ribs (about $21 US).

When we got there she exercised her woman's prerogative and ordered the grouper ("Filet with cream shrimp and calamary (sic) sauce"). Our waiter informed us that "tonight's grouper is mahi mahi", which seemed odd, but since she had mahi mahi the previous evening went back to her original choice, the BBQ pork ribs.

They were fall off the bone good with a sweet sauce, also served with mixed vegetables and the same mashed potatoes. She inquired about substitution of French fries, but there was an up charge and opted for the menu item and was very, very pleased.

We split a vanilla espresso ice cream, which was very unusual and good. Served in a short stemmed martini glass, it came as a small scoop of vanilla ice cream. Our waiter then poured a cup of hot espresso over the ice cream.

It was delightful!!

The portions served were not large, but fresh and well prepared. The service was excellent, the atmosphere superb, the view expansive.

Our tab was about $70, which comes to $93 US after the 13% tax and 10%...

I have been to Ronny's before, mainly just for drinks and sunsets. I was excited to come here for dinner with a few friends, but the meal itself was disappointing. My watermelon gazpacho was delicious, but that's where the meal went downhill for me. It was as if they forgot about us after the appetizer. A waiter took our silverware and asked if we wanted dessert. My friend stated we were waiting for our main courses and then we continued to wait, and wait, and wait. At least 45 minutes, if not longer. For my main course, I had the Fantasy Tuna, a watermelon seasoned and grilled like fish. I've heard great things about preparing vegan "fish" this way and was so excited to try it. Unfortunately, it was very underwhelming. The outside of the watermelon had good flavor, but the inside tasted like straight watermelon. The "fillet" was way too thick and should have been sliced thinner to marinate the flavor all the way through. There were also watermelon seeds throughout (maybe instead of fish bones, they left the seeds in?). The rice was dry and flavorless. The sauteed veggies were the only portion of the meal I enjoyed. For $20, I expected more than a chunk of watermelon, a small portion of dried rice, and veggies. I would go back for the views, but I don't think I'd go back...

People have high reviews but my party was not impressed.

We started with a civiche, which of the dozens of civiche I've had in Costa Rica rated on the bottom tier. Little more than raw fish with a splash of lime in water. Either Rony ran out of seasoning or they had zero marinating because nearly every beachside bar I've been to for the last month has had better.

One had Surf and turf the steak was so bland. I make better steaks on my backyard BBQ than this places overly priced piece of chewy unflavored gristle.

The surf portion was at least tolerable with a decent creamy garlic sauce.

The other dish was a seafood for 2. A mix of various seafood all pilled onto the same plate with various sauce that all congealed together into a confusing, unappealing mix of goo.

The tuna was decent and again, shrimp had a decent garlic sauce.

That was served with maybe a tablespoons worth of black beans and probably the most well done part of the meal, the mashed potatoes. So at least the chef knows how to smash and flavor some starch.

All together our triple digit costing meal was utterly disappointing.

The ambience of the place is interesting and it has a unique out.of the way feel to it. We however would not recommend the place...