Jacó sits right on Costa Rica's Pacific coast, which means one thing for dinner: incredibly fresh seafood. A seafood night is one of the most popular requests I get as your Jaco Beach Chef, and for good reason. Here's what it looks like when the catch of the day comes straight to your villa — more at www.jacobeachchef.com.
Starting with the day's catch
On your meal day I shop the coast for whatever is freshest — mahi-mahi, snapper, tuna, shrimp, and more, depending on what came in that morning. That's the advantage of cooking in a beach town: the fish doesn't travel far, so it lands on your plate at its best.
Ceviche to start
A proper Costa Rican ceviche — fresh fish cured in lime with cilantro, onion, and a little heat — is the perfect opener while the group gathers by the pool. It's bright, light, and unmistakably Pacific coast.
The main event
From there it's your call: grilled whole fish, seared tuna, garlic shrimp, or a mixed seafood plate. I cook everything fresh in your villa's kitchen and serve it course by course at your table, with sides built around your group. Not everyone eats seafood? I plate surf-and-turf or a separate main so no one is left out. See the full range on the menu.
Sides, drinks, and the whole group
A seafood night is more than the fish. I round out the table with Costa Rican sides — coconut rice, sweet plantains, fresh salads, and grilled vegetables — so it feels like a true feast rather than a single plate. Seafood dinners also scale beautifully: whether it's a quiet couple's dinner or a fifteen-person villa full of friends, I cook to the size of your group and serve everyone together at one table. Add cold drinks, the sound of the surf, and a Pacific sunset, and you have the kind of meal people talk about for the rest of the trip. And if part of your group prefers chicken or steak over seafood, I simply plate those alongside the fish so nobody is left out.
Why it beats a restaurant
A seafood dinner at your villa means no reservation, no waiting for a big-group table, and the whole crew together with the ocean breeze. It's the kind of meal people remember from a trip — and the heart of the Jaco Beach Chef experience.
Try it free on Day 1
With a villa booking I offer free chef services on Day 1 — a perfect night to make it a seafood welcome dinner. Details at www.jacobeachchef.com.
Book your seafood night
Ready for the freshest fish of your trip? Message me on WhatsApp with your dates and I'll build a seafood menu for your group in Jacó.