Camp David Ranch Restaurant — Restaurant in Santiago de los Caballeros

We visited Camp David Ranch during our recent trip to the Dominican Republic, and while the views were absolutely breathtaking, the food left much to be desired. I chose this spot based on glowing reviews, and aesthetically, it did not disappoint. Perched above Santiago, the restaurant offers a chic, clean, intimate space with panoramic mountain views that are nothing short of stunning, especially at sunset. It is an ideal setting for a peaceful evening surrounded by beauty.

That said, the culinary experience unfortunately didn’t match the ambiance. As a Dominican myself, I was disappointed that a restaurant of this caliber would serve dishes so lacking in flavor, particularly in a region known for its bold and rich cuisine.

Two members of our party ordered separate entrées that came with risotto. The risotto was shockingly bland, completely void of seasoning, depth, or any discernible taste. It quite literally tasted like boiled water. Whatever protein was paired with it was instantly dragged down by the lifelessness of the risotto. For a restaurant like Camp David, this was a serious letdown.

I also ordered the shrimp ceviche, which was presented beautifully in a coconut shell with a single plantain chip on top. While the presentation was thoughtful, the execution was lacking. The ceviche consisted of whole, cold shrimp in what tasted like coconut milk and salt. There was no citrus, no acidity, no herbs, none of the flavor complexity typically associated with ceviche.

On a more positive note, the french fries were a surprising highlight, crispy, golden, and delicious enough that we ordered more. My nephews loved them, and they were a hit with both kids and adults.

Bottom line, Camp David Ranch is absolutely worth visiting for the views and ambiance alone. It is a beautiful space that is well maintained and perfect for a sunset dinner or a celebratory outing. But if the kitchen hopes to match the setting, they will need to revisit their flavor profiles, starting with...

I visited for the 3rd time with my girlfriend for Valentines Day 2024. When I called they said the regular menu won't be working starting at 6:00PM at that a "Special Menu" would be available. Heads up, it was not special. When we have ordered the appetizers I have noticed that they were kind of cold, I did not think to much about it and let it go through, I mean mistakes happen, right? Well, when we ordered our main dish I had a rib-eye steak, with mashed potatoes and vegetables (not sure what my girlfriend had for main course) and again stone cold, I had already noticed when cutting the meat that something was wrong. I called the waiter and explained him that my dish was cold, he grabbed my plate, did not bother to apologize or anything. Before him leaving we asked if the dishes are already cooked before ordering, which he responded with a clear "YES". Literally 2 minutes after he comes back with a new plate, this already alarmed me that nothing was done fresh, everything precooked (so much about a special valentines day menu) and when he put it on the table I've noticed that the plate was warm, the outside of the meat was warm, but when cutting the inside was cold again. THEY REALLY MICROWAVED IT! I ended up eating it because I haven't eaten the whole day, being excited having a dinner at the restaurant, but it turned to be the most unpleasant dinner I've had. What annoys me the most is that a restaurant with such prices and quality try to be super cheap on a special occasion. Don't eat there if they offer a "special menu". Wasted a bunch of money...

Great Atmosphere! Phenomenal Views! However, in my personal opinion, this place is a bit overhyped. L.I. Cocktail was watered down, and almost double the price than a regular bar at "Monumento" area would charge for. It's obvious to note that coming here, one should be prepared to spend. With that in mind, that was no issue for me; only thing is that I live by the principal of, "you should get what you payed for".

The food, however, was amazing, what was not amazing was the portions, so come here on an empty stomach, and you may not be satisfied.

Service: Was Good. Not exceptional, as expected, but good. Waiter was nice and attentive. But to be completely honest, I Received more exceptional service over at "Mr. Grilled" not to far away, at a "Lower" restaurant, you would say, for a much lower price of the overall bill. Similar atmosphere.

In conclusion: Come here to enjoy the views, and for the experience in fine-dining at the edge of the mountains. However, me being a NYC Native, I expected more and was disappointed. Don't let this review deter you from visiting. Go for yourself, and find out!

Quick tip: When calling to setup your reservation, ask to be put by the "views" (Along the edge of the restaurant.) Else, be disappointed to be positioned in a location where the "views" is a glimpse. When asked to switch tables by the "Views", was kindly denied.

EDIT: I only dined at the restaurant. I did not stay at the hotel or any other accommodation/extensions of Camp...