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For a pizza lover, the name La Posada de la Pizza (Pizza Inn) will evoke delightful images of melted cheese, garlic, olive oil and floury crusts sliding together in a relaxed, friendly atmosphere.
In a nook of Calle Real commercial center in San Pedro, east of San José, Italian restaurant La Posada de la Pizza brings these pizza dreams to life and throws in a wide menu of pasta dishes, calzones, salads, homemade desserts and specialty coffees.
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Mamma e Papa Mia! La Posada de la Pizza, a mom-and-pop pizzeria in the eastern San José suburb of San Pedro, offers pizzas, calzones, a salad bar and more at low prices. |
Ronald Reyes | Tico Times
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The wide range of pizza toppings includes salami, fresh tomato, ham, mushrooms, olives, pepperoni, onion, ground beef, bacon, pineapple and coconut, in more than 10 combinations. Vegetarians will be pleased to find options such as the delicious vegetarian and margarita pizzas, as well as the option to customize their toppings as desired. The vegetarian pizza is light and fresh tasting, and certainly passes the toughest pizza test of all: Leftovers still taste good for breakfast the next day.
The pizzas, which have an unmistakable North American taste, are available in individual portions and small, medium and large sizes. Prices range from ¢1,450 to ¢9,890 ($2.60 to $18). Combos for two to four people include pizza, salad and drinks for discounted prices.
The pasta menu lists 13 choices of spaghetti and short pasta bathed in everything from a simple garlic butter, oregano, basil and cheese sauce to pressed ham and bacon, onion, tomato and cheese in a white sauce. La Posada also prepares meat lasagnas. Prices are very reasonable, ranging from ¢2,290 to ¢3,190 ($4.10 to $4.70).
Five types of calzones are available with fillings including salami, ground beef, mushrooms, sweet corn and chicken, at prices from ¢2,550 to ¢8,750 ($4.50 to $16).
For greens, diners can choose their favorite ingredients at the salad bar and build a small salad for ¢1,300 ($2.30) or a large for ¢2,490 ($4.40). A selection of soups is also available here.
To conclude your meal, or if you've just stopped by for coffee and dessert, La Posada serves a variety of inexpensive treats such as muffins, cakes, tres leches , cookies and flan for under ¢1,300 ($2.30). Coffee drinks include cappuccinos, lattes, mochas and espressos for ¢770 ($1.40).
The impeccably clean restaurant seats 32 people, with an ambience somewhere between your average fast-food pizzeria and a quaint mom-and-pop diner, perfect for an executive lunch, a student rendezvous or a laid-back family dinner. Costa Ricans would call it a sodita , or small restaurant.
The mom-and-pop element is real. Jamaicans Mark and Peggy Bloomfield, who have been in the country for more than 30 years, have owned and operated the place since opening it three years ago together with their son, Peter.
“It's just been great meeting so many people,” Mark said, describing his favorite aspect of running the restaurant.
Bloomfield, who acknowledged that Peggy is the most involved in the cooking process at La Posada, said their goal is to open additional outlets.
In the meantime, in San Pedro their dishes are prepared and served by a smiling staff that is polite and eager to please. They also get bonus points for packing leftovers in environmentally friendly paper bags rather than the more common Styrofoam containers.
All in all, eating at La Posada de la Pizza is a charming, inexpensive experience.
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