Mariajuana Restobar Tamarindo — Restaurant in Tamarindo

This place is amazing!! I love the "food court" setup. I went with my husband, brother, and SIL. The guys really wanted tacos and my SIL, and I wanted something snazzy for our last night in CR. Unfortunately, the taco spot was closed, so we all ate at Mariajuana.

There was a bit of a wait, maybe 30-40 minutes for our main course, but it was soooo worth the wait and we didn't mind because we'd gotten appetizers also; twice fried plantains (think Puerto Rican tostones) with mango Chipotle, guacamole-type, and chimichurri sauces, as well as steak topped arepas with the same sauces. Holy cow! Everything was amazing, especially that mango Chipotle sauce.

For the main course, we went in! My husband had a medium tomahawk steak with creamy mashed potatoes and the house salad. Oh. My. God! The steak was well-seasoned and tender. Every single bite was so flavorful (I snuck a few bites).

My brother (lying to himself about sharing) got a BBQ for Two. They didn't have pork ribs when we went, but they made up for it with plenty of chorizo. He devoured the wings and ignores all his sides. He was there for the meat, and he got it 👀 The dish came with grilled octopus, which, as someone who HATES octopus, I can tell you was AMAZING! It's the only way to have octopus. It wasn't chewy at all, and when dipped in the soy sauce reduction was 👩🏻‍🍳💋

My SIL got the jumbo shrimp dish with pureed carrots and veggies (I believe). The puree was extremely creamy and silky. She usually picks at her food, but she ate 75% of her dish right then and there. She kept saying that she's stuffed but continued to eat until her eyes couldn't stay open anymore.

As for myself, I had the Surf and Turf; a medium tenderloin and shrimp with veggies and a house salad. The steak was incredibly tender, and I barely had to use the knife to cut it. Even the thickest parts of the cut were flavorful. The shrimp weren't rubbery, which is a problem most restaurants run into. The house salad was phenomenal! The strawberries and vinaigrette gave the leafy greens and vegetables a different dimension. 100% would recommend. The veggies themselves were perfectly steamed/grilled. They were definitely not bouled because they weren't waterlogged.

Our server (possibly the owner) was a delightful French native who caught on to my husband and brother's jokes (to each other) and made a snap or two right back. We loved her! She was so attentive and accommodating. We never saw the chef, but my compliments to them. Everything was spectacular! All in all, this is definitely a stop we'd make again if we're ever in Tamarindo again.

Also, don't forget to tip your servers. Some of these places are small businesses that need tourism to survive. That means an owner somewhere is making less than $5/hr after paying their bills and their staff.

OK. Last thing, I promise! Those little strawberry and caramel candies at the end of the meal just sealed it all in a perfect little...

Update: on our most recent visit, we bought 4 old friends who were visiting us. With more people, we were able to try many old and new dishes. The tomahawk steak was very good as were the bbq dish.

It may not be a great restaurant, but it definitely deserves a five-star here in Tamarindo for the quality of the food. We tried two of the tapas and the tortillas soup. The steak arepa was tender (you know how hard is to find a restaurant in Guanacaste that serves tender beef) and tasted very good. The mushroom over hummus was excellent and the hummus is different than what we were used to, but better. The tortillas soup is not your ordinary Mexican affair as it was much creamier and cheesier. It was different, but very tasty. The service was excellent and friendly. The only drawback was it’s proximity to the very dusty street. We had to cover the drinks and dishes from the road dust. I would say this is one of the best eateries...

An unforgettable seafood feast in Tamarindo

This restaurant is truly a gem in Tamarindo — the kind of place where the flavors, atmosphere, and service all come together perfectly. The seafood platter was nothing short of spectacular: fresh grilled fish, juicy shrimp, tender octopus, seared tuna, mussels, and perfectly roasted vegetables, all complemented by a refreshing salad. Every bite tasted like the ocean, with that extra touch of creativity and seasoning that makes it memorable.

A special mention goes to Gerald and Gabriel, whose friendly energy and attentive service made the experience even better. They anticipated everything we needed without us having to ask, gave great recommendations, and made us feel like welcome guests rather than just customers.

If you’re in Tamarindo and want an incredible seafood experience with warm, genuine service, this is the place to be. We’ll definitely be...