If you ever find yourself traveling to Arenal in Costa Rica, you definitely need to check out Club Rio restaurant at The Springs Resort & Spa.
No matter where you are staying in the La Fortuna area, you can take advantage of their 2-day pass, which gains you entry into the resort and its multitude of pools, waterslides and on-site adventures.
During our visit, we spent the day at Club Rio Adventure Center, where we enjoyed a tour of the animal sanctuary and enjoyed the many hot springs along the nature trail. After a long day of activity, it was great to check out the Rancho Club Rio Restaurant and Bar.
We started out with a few authentic Costa Rican cocktails, which were so nice to enjoy with the beautiful views of the river.
Next, we had to order some of the restaurant’s signature “bocas,” which included a variety of American favorites like chicken fingers and quesadillas, or Costa Rican specialties like barbecue cassava chips and sea bass ceviche.
The Rancho Club Rio restaurant at the Springs Resort exceeded our expectations. It was an absolutely gorgeous tropical and laid-back open-air dining area, with dramatic views of the rushing river.
For our entrees, we chose a variety of dishes that reflected the restaurant’s Costa Rican heritage. The Garbanzos con Pollo was made with local slow cooked chickpeas, chicken, onions, peppers, celery, cilantro and tomato.
We also enjoyed the Rio Grilled Chicken Sandwich, made with grilled organic chicken breast, gouda cheese, tomato, lettuce, mushrooms and avocado with roasted garlic aioli on homemade ciabatta bread.
Rancho Club Rio Restaurant Menu
Prices at Club Rio Restaurant range from about $15-$20.
BBQ Cassava Chips $6.50
Crispy BBQ Fried Cassava Chips accompanied with Guacamole and Pico de Gallo Salsa.
Tico Ceviche $14.00
Lemon Marinated Fresh Pacific Sea Bass with Cilantro, Onions and Bell Peppers. Accompanied with Corn Tortilla Chips.
Chicken Fingers $9.00
Double-Dredged or Grilled Chicken Fingers, served with French Fries and your choice of BBQ Sauce, Ranch Dip or Honey Mustard.
Cheese Quesadilla $7.00
Mix of Cheddar and Mozzarella Cheese Quesadilla accompanied with Guacamole and Pico de Gallo Salsa.
Chifribowl $10.00
Bowl of fresh Steamed Rice with Spicy Red Beans and Chicharrón (Fried Pork), topped with Pico de Gallo Salsa, Lettuce and Avocado on a Fried Flour Tortilla.
Springs Chalupa $18.00
Open Faced Fried Flour Tortilla layered with a choice of Chicken or Beef, Black Bean Dip, Lettuce, Cheddar Cheese, Pico de Gallo Salsa and Sour Cream. Accompanied with Guacamole and Pickled Jalapeños.
Rio Grilled Chicken Sandwich $12.00
Grilled Organic Chicken Breast, Gouda Cheese, Tomato, Lettuce, Mushrooms and Avocado with Roasted Garlic Aioli on Homemade Ciabatta Bread.
Costa Rican Casado $18.50
Your choice of Grilled Beef Sirloin, Chicken Breast, Grilled Fish or Grilled Vegetables accompanied with Cheese and Corn Tortilla “Prensada,” White Rice, Red Beans, Sweet Plantains, Lime Cabbage Slaw and a Fried Egg.
“Garbanzos con Pollo (“with Chicken”) $13.00
This hearty traditional dish is made with local slow cooked Chickpeas, Chicken, Onions, Peppers, Celery, Cilantro and Tomato. Accompanied with White Rice.
Arroz Club Rio $15.00
House special. Fried Rice with Vegetables, Ham and Chicken accompanied with Fries and a Green Salad.
Caribbean Chicken $18.25
Coconut Glazed Chicken Breast accompanied with traditional Caribbean Rice and Beans and Roasted Sweet Plantains.
Tropical Fruit Mousse Parfait $6.00
Homemade Tropical Fruit Compote layered with Banana Mousse and sprinkled with Dried Shaved Coconut.
Coconut Flan $6.00
A Costa Rican Signature Dessert, accompanied with Chocolate Sauce and Fresh Strawberries.
Ready for more Chef Tips?
Head over to my YouTube channel for video demonstrations of more than 300 recipes! I’ll guide you through each step, sharing tips and tricks, and insider secrets gleaned from the chefs around the world. Let’s embark on more delicious adventures together! You can also follow me on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and X!
