A Fitting Farewell

On my last night at the Hilton Papagayo, I met a nice couple from California who had just arrived at the resort. They had taken a red-eye and were experiencing serious jet lag, but were trying to reset their internal clock by staying awake until Costa Rican bedtime, something I also do when traveling to get on the local time as soon as possible.

We both had reservations for dinner at the resort’s fine dining outlet, El Dorado, so we decided to share a table. Included in the all-inclusive package (which is ending October 31st when the resort will transition to the standard á la carte Hilton model) are two dinners at either El Dorado or the Italian grill. El Dorado is definitely the way to go with this pick.

The lovely and intimate dining room is located next to the main restaurant near the pool, and the menu is filled with continental classics done Costa Rican style. I chose the seafood medley, sort of a paella without the rice…prawns and lobster and mussels piled high on a pristine white plate. My West Coast friends tried other options, including the local take on filet and mashed potatoes. This is the one outlet on the property where the Executive Chef can show off his talent and was a perfect place for my farewell dinner.