We were walking from Villas Sol to La Finisteria and knew that it was probably a mile away. As we walked, Daniel, the resort's activity director, was walking to his home and joined us. It was such fun hearing about his first evening in his home when a howler monkey woke him at 4am right outside his window. It scared him to death! He said he's gotten used to them now.

He told us about Villa del Sueno Restaurant, and we were so glad he did! We couldn't have walked up the steep hill to Finisteria! We sat at the bar, and Ronnie fixed me a scrumptious drink that had Costa Rican liquor in it and lots of smashed limes and sugar water. It was so good! I told him that Carl's 66th birthday was the day before and asked him what he would recommend on the menu. He recommended the brandy peppercorn fillet for Carl and the shrimp scampi for me. That's what we had and swapped several bites. YUM!!! They were both SO good!!!

Ronnie switched roles and went from being bartender to waiter. Alan was the manager and could not have been more gracious, and at the end of the meal, he and Ronnie brought out a delicious dessert with a birthday candle and they sang to Carl. Ronnie could be a successful opera singer in the States! What a beautiful voice! Alan's was really good, too. A taxi driver drove us back to the resort. I would have loved another meal at Villa del Sueno, but there were too many other places we wanted to go. We WILL return someday!

Upon arrival, we were immediately asked whether we had reservations--the only time we were ever asked that in Playa Hermosa, and it pretty much sets the tone for the place. The restaurant was the best (real French service!) and the most expensive we visited. The menu was varied, but it pretty much all fit into the French-continental mold: shrimp cocktails, coq au vin, filet mignon... a kind of 1960s ideal of fine dining. No fish and rice here! The wine list was short, but the wonder was that they actually had one.

We both ordered the filet mignon. Made with local Brahman beef, it was extremely tender and tasty.

Desserts included items such as chocolate cake and profiteroles. The profiteroles were pleasant but disappointingly filled with ice cream instead of custard, with even more ice cream on the side. The owner conceded that it wasn't very authentic, but he said that American tourists love lots of ice cream.

For entertainment, the Quebecois owner performs with his band a couple of nights a week. The staff was very attentive, if a bit nervous about keeping up the high tone.