Irazú

Description
Never tried Central American food? Here's your safe entry. It's simple, authentic, cheap, supercasual and friendly. Start with the hearts of palm salad—huge, tangy stalks on a bed of shredded cabbage that's been tossed in a lime vinaigrette, along with radishes, cilantro, cucumber, pickled beets and ripe avocado. Another menu standout is the pepito sandwich, a toasted, gooey combo of juicy rib-eye steak, caramelized onions and mild cheese on French bread. Make it a meal by adding a side of perfect white rice, soupy black beans and sweet plantains. Bring a bottle of Malbec to match, and end the meal with one of the shakes (oatmeal and tamarind are our favorites).