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       pork chop and mashed potatoes
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Marlin Bill's

Marlin Bill's

Destination: Nosara

No paper menus here. At Marlin Bill's, an erasable whiteboard with the dinner choices floats from table to table, like the coveted gem of the town.

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Florida natives, owners Bill and Pam Lancaster, made Marlin Bill's in Playa Guiones their home away from home and opened it up to Guiones beachgoers and travelers, with fast friendly service and comfort food.

Overlooking the town center of Guiones, an outdoor terrace rings with friendly chatter and the laughter of families on vacation. Plenty of tables seat bigger parties and repeat customers, comprising the majority of Marlin Bill's guests. At the bar, a dartboard and two TV's playing sports channels keep conversation lively.

Marlin Bill's dressings and sauces are all made in-house, using recipes concocted more than 14 years ago, when no store in town had what Bill and Pam needed to create their dishes. Now, guests taste those same legendary flavors in the complimentary crispy lettuce salad, with a creamy garlic dressing, and the basket of bread rolls with a ramekin of chimichurri dipping sauce.

Paired with the Rum Runner, $6, blended with blackberry brandy, banana liqueur and pineapple juice, Marlin Bill's dinner staples like the 16-ounce char-grilled pork chop, $16, with house-made mashed potatoes and sautéed vegetables, simply can't be beat.

For the hungry surfers in town, a giant portion of eggplant parmesan over linguini pasta, $12, or an imported USDA choice strip steak with a choice of side (best with homemade mashed potatoes), $22, are both almost too much to finish. On the constantly changing whiteboard menu, you'll always find fresh fish caught locally in Nosara.

In true essence of a home cooked meal, Pam makes desserts like your grandma always did, a remarkably sweet graham cracker crusted key lime pie, $4, health bar sundaes, or fizzy root beer floats.

Ambiance

A second-story building at the top of a hill overlooking Via Guiones Street, Marlin Bill's outdoor terrace claims importance without being pretentious. Larger tables take up the majority of the dining space, quickly filled during sunset with families and local neighborhood friends.

Award plaques from Bill's fishing competitions sit on the backsplash of the bar, underneath two flat-screen TVs playing sports channels.

Service

Fast and efficient ordering and food delivery, attentive even with larger groups.

Price

Appetizers $7-14; Entrees $11-$22; Desserts $4

Hours

Lunch 11 a.m. – 3 p.m; Dinner 5:30 p.m. – 9 p.m; closed Sundays

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