Soda La Perla — Restaurant in Sámara

What was once a cherished spot in Samara has unfortunately lost its charm. Soda Las Perlas seems to have forgotten the basics of hospitality, no welcoming greetings or goodbyes, creating an unwelcoming atmosphere that's impossible to ignore. The food is merely average, especially when compared to the consistently excellent offerings at Casa Esmeralda nearby. Nothing on the menu justifies the cold reception. Most disappointing is the apparent disinterest in serving foreign visitors. In a town like Samara that thrives on tourism, this attitude is particularly surprising and disappointing. Save yourself the uncomfortable experience and choose one of the many other welcoming establishments in Samara that still understand the value of genuine Costa Rican...

Another place we tried with traditional food and another disappointment. Vegetarian chalupas were served with barely cooked potatoes, paprika and zucchini. They were tasteless. Side veggies were dry. I have no idea what the orange was for but it didn’t make the dish taste better. Fish fillet was just dry fish fillet. Chicken cassado is just tiny bits of chicken floating in red sauce of unknown origin. Tablets were dirty. Some leftovers from previous guests were present. The only good thing was fresh pineapple juice - but it’s really hard to ruin one. And yes it’s quite cheap comparatively to other local...

This is without question the best place for a reasonably priced and well cooked meal in Samara. The folks here are kind and generous in their service. I had eaten here a number of times over two different visits to Samara. The last day here I was quite ill from having been given spoiled food when we had eaten in another restaurant the night before. The lady gave me medicine for my stomach distress, told me what not to eat and made me food that would be helpful in relieving my stomach upset from the food poisoning. I can't recommend this...