dulcinea27 said:
Any suggestions on that and also on your favorite place in Boca Chica for authentic DR cuisine?
Just got back from another trip to the DR - nearly a month this time - and spent about 10 days in or near Boca Chica. For authentic Dominican cuisine, it is hard to beat the little blue restaurant on Calle Duarte just east of the Europa Hotel. Not sure, but I believe its name is Boca Rincon. The food is very good and inexpensive - less than $3 for a typical meal (Cerdo Guisado con Arroz y Habichuelas).
For finer dining, I've had very good luck at Da Nancy (at the easternmost end of Calle Duarte, tucked in the shadow of the Hamaca). The Fettucini with Lobster is especially good. Also the Boca Marina (Grilled Chicken Breast with Bleu Cheese Sauce) and the Pelicano (Paella for two) are also favorites. They are located on the beachfront on either side of Neptuno's, just east of the Hamaca.
We stayed at the Zapata for 2 days and the experience left a bad taste in my mouth. The reservation and deposit process sucked, had to send deposit to some company in Canada! That got screwed up. Then they nearly doubled the price on one of the rooms I booked (I paid for 2 rooms plus an apartment) and claimed that they had emailed me about the extra cost. Nope. We also were notified not to flush toilet paper but to put it in the waste basket. Geez! I stayed in 5 different hotels on this trip and the Zapata was the most expensive and least comfortable of all. Only advantage was its location on the beach.
The Costalunga still remains my favorite "off the beach" hotel in Boca Chica. They do things right. Priced reasonably, great staff, and rooms are very comfortable. The Europa is good too, but noisier due to its proximity to the all night street parties on Calle Duarte.
Swede