Cocina Ecléctica — Restaurant in San Rafael

After a long, frustrating search guided by a TripAdvisor review raving about authentic Moroccan cuisine, my husband Jeff and I finally found the so-called restaurant. It wasn’t a restaurant at all—just a lady’s home, hidden underground like some secret speakeasy. We descended a creaky staircase into a basement that was eclectically decorated with mismatched lamps, colorful tapestries, and a jumble of furniture that looked like it came from a thrift store’s clearance bin. We were the only ones there, seated at a wobbly table, feeling like we’d stumbled into someone’s quirky living room. For 45 minutes, it was just us, exchanging nervous glances, until another couple arrived, their confused faces mirroring ours and making us feel slightly less like we’d walked into a trap. As soon as we sat, a scruffy cat, introduced by the owner Joanne as one that “hates everyone,” decided Jeff was its new obsession. This furry menace leaped onto his lap, kneading and sucking on his shirt with such enthusiasm that it was soaked in no time. “He never does this!” Joanne marveled, while Jeff, pinned under the cat’s relentless affection, whispered, “I’m being drowned in drool.” I tried not to laugh, but the sight of my husband as a cat’s personal chew toy was peak absurdity. Joanne didn’t offer a menu—just asked about food allergies and if we wanted wine, which felt promising, like maybe we were in for a curated experience. The appetizer seemed to confirm it: a plate of Wagyu beef, fatty and salty, bursting with flavor that made us think the Moroccan feast was coming. We were wrong. The main course was a letdown of epic proportions: a boiled chicken quarter, bland as cardboard, served with plain white rice and a sad sprinkle of microgreens that looked like an afterthought. Jeff muttered, “Where’s the Morocco in this?” as we poked at the flavorless disaster, dreaming of the spices TripAdvisor had promised. Thankfully, dessert saved the night. Joanne brought out a warm pumpkin pie mousse, silky and rich, paired with a scoop of vanilla ice cream that was pure comfort in a bowl. It was so good we almost forgot the cat drool and the chicken travesty. We savored every bite, paid the bill (scribbled on a napkin, naturally), and gently peeled the cat off Jeff’s soggy shirt before escaping up the stairs. As we emerged, unscathed but bewildered, Jeff said, “Well, the dessert was worth it… barely.” What an experience—TripAdvisor, you’ve got some...

Tucked away in the heart of Escazu, cocina ecléctica promised a Moroccan inspired cuisine adventure, according to TripAdvisor. With no menu to guide us, we arrived with open minds and empty stomachs ready for Chef Joanna to weave her magic in her charming, art filled home. The setting is undeniably unique, think of dining at an eccentric friends house, complete with cats, weaving through your legs and dogs, adding their own brand of hospitality. but, like a plot twist in a quirky novel, the experience veered from delightful to bewildering. The meal kicked off with a high note, a Wagyu beef appetizer that was melt in your mouth divine, a tantalizing tease of what we hope was to come. However, the main course landed with a thud, a solitary chicken thigh quarter perched on a bed of rice as uninspired as a Monday morning. For a restaurant built as Moroccan, the absence of vibrant, spices, tangines, or couscous was a culinary plot hole. Dessert, redeemed things slightly with a pumpkin pie mousse and ice cream, a sweet and creamy encore that left us smiling, if only briefly. The ambience is Homie charm and furry residence is a double edge sword. The cats were adorable, but as we made our exit, one of the dogs decided my husband looked like a chew toy, lunging with an unsettling enthusiasm. Even more surprising with Chef Joanna’s nonchalance, offering no attempt to rein in our canine critic. It was a jarring end to an already uneven ending. in all good faith, I cannot recommend this spot unless you’re craving unpredictability over stability. For a true Moroccan experience, you might need to keep searching or at least bring a dog treat for back up. Disappointed...

This was the best dining experience I’ve had this year! And definitely my absolute favorite in Costa Rica! Everything from the ambiance to each carefully thought out dish was truly incredible! You are literally inside the chef’s home, she and her daughter invite you in for the ultimate dining experience. It’s in a quiet residential neighborhood and has a lovely inner courtyard. I came here as part of my bachelorette weekend in Costa Rica, and all five of us were so impressed by the food!

You don’t know what the matron of the house/the chef will serve up - you just tell her about any food allergies you may have, and let the feast begin! You will be served dish after dish until you tell them to stop. We stopped at four dishes — each dish had Asian inspired flavors in them, which were all drawn from the chef’s experiences living abroad in Asia. She even makes her own kimchi!! I can’t stop singing praises for each dish, and I also asked for extra kimchi and it was amazing… it’s definitely very unique blend of international flavors that the chef makes it uniquely her own.

I’d totally come here again without hesitation if I’m ever in Costa Rica again! And maybe next time I’ll try to see if I can stuff myself with more...