HiR Fine Dining

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1. j

   jpmorganjr

   Los Angeles

   5 reviews

   5.0

   5 reviews

   Dined on November 27, 2019

   overall5food5service5ambience5

   I’ve waited four years to eat at HiR and it was everything I’d hoped for and more! After closely following Noam’s journey online and reading the glowing one five star review after another, I was of course anticipating something special, but this experience really blew me away. The food was not only delicious, but plate after plate was an intriguing example of the philosophy behind HiR Fine Dining which Noam shared is to ‘integrate opposites’. I love how Noam uses his food to take his diners (or as he calls them ‘clients’) on a kind of philosophical journey. My group of five left not only having enjoyed the food and experience immensely, but also thinking about our lives in new ways. Because of how ‘outside the box’ and ‘contrary to the rules’ Noam’s cooking is, our conversation was inspired about how we could bring more of that way of being into our own lives too. The idea of putting fish scales as a topping on ice cream is absolutely insane - and yet it works so well! Who does that!? Normally when my wife and I go to fine dining restaurants (and we frequent many) we drink wine but our group choose the no-wine option and let the food be our focus. I am so glad we did as it stands on its own. I also appreciate how Noam serves the dishes very quickly at first and then slows down. He has a keen attention on how his dishes impact appetite. He remarked that being both the table service and the one cooking gives him a unique perspective that allows him to see and adjust things a chef normally wouldn’t. As always with fine dining, it’s the little things that count. It also felt very warm and welcoming at HiR, as if Noam was having us for dinner at his home. (Which since he lives there, he was!) I like that we paid in advance and no requests for money were made at the end. I’m glad we included a tip though. Being a one man job, it sounds like he worked all day to prepare our dinner. Highly recommended and worth traveling to Costa Rica for! ❤️👍🏼

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2. OT

   OpenTable Diner

   1 review

   2.0

   1 review

   Dined on November 20, 2019

   overall2food3service2ambience2

   I booked HiR (actually Noam, a one man operation) a few weeks in advance after reading rave reviews that this was once in a lifetime memorable experience. It certainly was that but perhaps not in the same manner. Noam lives off the beaten path so if you are driving yourself be sure that you have the right car. Upon arrival we were greeted by Noam and the two other people we were dining with. Noam is very welcoming, however, if you are dining with only a few people and they are terrible, well, you are stuck with terrible company for two plus hours. That is completely outside of Noam’s control so just fair warning. We immediately began the 7-course meal and for me, there were some hits and misses. As expected. Was wasn’t expected was the size of the portions. Yes, this is fine dining. But the portion sizes were essentially amuse-bouche portions. And it didn’t help that Noam explained how he used to charge $75 per person but after hearing how “cheap” that was from his guests he doubled it. I was shocked. At the end of the meal, I thought, “Ok well, not the greatest experience but it’s a meal we’ll never forget so best to just move on.” And then Noam brought our bill. He charged us $25 for corkage because we brought our own champagne after he told me on the phone that we could and should bring our own booze. I was floored. With such an intimate, personal experience, it felt like a pure money grab. This is not an actual dining experience in a restaurant. You are eating on a self proclaimed “not a chef’s” porch. That left such a bad taste in my mouth I paid him $30 (he said he could give me change) just to leave as quickly as possible. Oh, and if you want to buy Noam’s wine he has $10 bottles that he’ll charge you $30 for. So you’re better off buying his wine.

   HiR Fine DiningResponded on November 25, 2019Everything you complain about is clearly written on my website: "A rustic and casual family style environment. This not a standard white tablecloth restaurant", "Noam opens his home to 12 people per night", "For wine lovers, I recommend buying bottles at Walters Fish & Cheese and pay the corkage fee. I have a few bottles of mid-range wine", and "I have no formal culinary training and never worked in a restaurant before starting HiR Fine Dining" - I refunded you the corkage

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3. KS

   KateS

   1 review

   5.0

   1 review

   Dined on June 2, 2019

   overall5food5service5ambience5

   This was an incredible experience! Not only do you get a unique and delicious meal made in front of you while you relax, Noam also provides excellent conversation. Take the time to appreciate both the fine dining (each dish with a story and made from local ingredients, including from Noam’s own garden), but also Noam’s life story in general. You won’t regret it!

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4. AL

   AnthonyL

   New York Area

   5 reviews

   vip
   5.0

   5 reviews

   Dined on April 8, 2019

   overall5food5service5ambience5

   This was an absolutely amazing experience. In fact, it was the highlight of our trip to Costa Rica. Not only is Noam a delight, but he actually enjoys being a part of the experience. Not only did he entertain us the entire time, but his food was absolutely extraordinary. If you love fine dining but don't love the pomp that usually comes along with those stuffy restaurants, you will adore eating in the open air at HiR.

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5. KP

   KatieP

   Denver

   1 review

   5.0

   1 review

   Dined on April 8, 2019

   overall5food5service5ambience5

   This is a true dining experience of a life time. You MUST do this. You won't be sorry. The food was amazing the host/chef was to die for. I will tell everyone I know to travel to CR just for this.

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6. BS

   BobS

   St. Louis

   12 reviews

   vip
   5.0

   12 reviews

   Dined on February 27, 2019

   overall5food5service5ambience5

   Excellent tasting menu under the stars. Noam wowed us with his ingenuity and hospitality. Great use of indigenous ingredient, a fantastic meal all in all!

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7. KK

   KellyK

   1 review

   5.0

   1 review

   Dined on February 25, 2019

   overall5food5service5ambience5

   Noam is so welcoming and warm! His food is fantastic. We were in awe of him. He is going to blow up. This is such a well kept secret and it won't be for long. Our experience was truly magical and delicious.

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8. SF

   ShawnF

   1 review

   5.0

   1 review

   Dined on February 15, 2019

   overall5food5service5ambience5

   Incredible.....I would love to describe the experience, but don’t want to give anything away. Expect the unexpected....Prepare for adventure....We would travel back to Costa Rica just to have dinner with Noam.

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9. OT

   OpenTable Diner

   Denver

   1 review

   vip
   5.0

   1 review

   Dined on January 23, 2019

   overall5food5service5ambience5

   What an exceptional meal in a unique setting. Noam is clearly gifted. Everyone in our group of four was beyond satisfied. I would be considered a foodie, and there were ingredients I’d never heard of before, like crispy fish scales and shredded avocado pit. Do yourself a favor and go.

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10. K

    Karina

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on January 1, 2019

    overall3food4service5ambience4

    It took me a few months to put our opinion on but here it goes finally. If you are looking for a different dining experience, in the woods and following the cooking process with a great explanation of each plate as well as getting to know a little your host during the evening and his house, this is a great experience. In our case, maybe because our expectations were high (it was new year's eve and we wanted it to be perfect), but I would say it disappointed us a little. The food was great even if Noam is not a professional cooker, the dishes were interesting and tasty (but not compared to a Michelin star restaurant as some said on their reviews). Noam and Nadia were very kind and welcoming as well. However, we felt cheated with the wine. We got the white one and the red one to share with another couple, in our opinion none of both worth it at all and the cost of each bottle was around 60$ for the red and around 35-40$ for the white. So the next day, we decided to check the real cost of the wine and saw that it cost in the store was less than 10$. Of course in any restaurant, the cost may be around 30-50% higher than in the store and it is normal, but an 80% it's too much in our opinion. Also he didn't have any other drinks like beer for example. We are food lovers and wine lovers. Maybe we got used to the Spanish good wines (quality and price) and this is something more common in the US or Central America, but as said we felt cheated because of this. So my recommendation, bring your own wine. We didn't do it because we understood from Noam that he also had a wine menu of medium level (he said) and if we wanted something really good we could bring ours. Anyway, without this incident we could value it as a good experience but little expensive for the value.

    HiR Fine DiningResponded on November 21, 2019My wine provider, Premier Wine & Food Company, is the sole supplier of this wine in Costa Rica The price of the bottle I served you cost less than $10 in the USA Because of taxes, transport, storage, and a smaller market, the retail price here is $32.27 USD I pay $19.94 because I get restaurant discount Industry standard on wine is 2-3x markup. You can confirm this with a Google search. Your statements are very misleading. I operate my business with the utmost transparency.

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11. M

    Mike

    Chicago

    6 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    6 reviews

    Dined on January 1, 2019

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Noam and Nadia put together one of the most unique dining experiences I've ever had, serving some of the best cuisine sourced with local ingredients in the comfort of their home. It was unforgettable. My girlfriend was previously not much of a traveler, but after dining at HiR, she now has the wanderlust and wants to find other experiences like this that let her connect with people on an intimate level and share experiences and laughter.

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12. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    New York Area

    3 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on December 25, 2018

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    If you’re able to join Noam at his kitchen, you will not be disappointed. It’s a once in a life time experience. We were honored to spend Christmas as a family dining under the stars, savoring every mouthful of culinary surprise that presented with each course.

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13. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    Denver

    7 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    7 reviews

    Dined on November 28, 2018

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    This was a fantastic experience. An intimate setting in the jungle about 25 minutes outside of Tamarindo. GPS will get you there just fine, I would recommend a 4x4 vehicle to get there as you'll be on a rocky road with some water crossings that can get deep if its been raining. Make sure you get there on time. The restaurant features one main chefs table with seating for up to 12, so depending on your group size and given reservations you might meet some fun guests. We met a local group celebrating a birthday who shared the meal with us. The seven course menu is diverse with a seafood focus. Noam and Nadia make a great team, and the fact that they prepare all of this on their own is truly remarkable. Noam presents every dish which tells a story and gives you insight into his life as well as the local ingredients. A self taught chef that has ambition, creativity, and a drive to share with others. Each dish is very different and full of flavor. This is a special experience that will likely be the highlight of your Costa Rica experience. This is expensive, but its not just dinner; its a 3-4 hour culinary adventure so if you are considering it, its worth it. Bring your own wine, and for a corking fee per bottle you can enjoy a lovely night with your group. I can't wait to see how he continues to evolve and how this restaurant will grow as more people being discover it.

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14. BM

    BruceM

    Seattle

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on November 20, 2018

    overall5food4service5ambience3

    If you are looking for an adventure out in the jungles with amazing food, wirh warm and genuine hosts then HiR is for you! It’s a bit of a trek out but worth the ride. The creativity of the dishes and the stories behind each made the evening memorable. We loved it.

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15. RB

    RobertB

    Los Angeles

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on November 12, 2018

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Unlike any other dining experience I've had previously. Noam is an amazing chef, and the chef's table format was amazing. Set at his house just south of Tamarindo, we arrived after driving through a river bed (have a 4wd if in the rainy season for sure) and we were the only 4 guests that night. He and Nadia greeted us and set us at our table overlooking the forest, with the sounds of howler monkeys in the distance and a gorgeous view. The 7 courses were truly spectacular, he prepared them and then told us the history behind each one and the sourcing of the ingredients. The food was comparable to many Michelin starred restaurants we have been to in the past in France, Belgium and the US. If you are interested in a unique dining experience, this is it.

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16. l

    lawyerdiner

    Atlanta Metro

    90 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    90 reviews

    Dined on August 19, 2018

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Nestled in the midst of the forest just on the outskirts of Tamarindo lies a jewel and surprise for foodies who love healthy, home grown and tasty cuisine. Norm and Nadia provide you with a culinary 7 course experience that will leave you wanting for more, but not hungry. Kendall & Pamela Minter

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17. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    Los Angeles

    2 reviews

    1.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on July 7, 2018

    overall1food1service1ambience1

    Its been 4 years and i still think of how we got ripped off. Its some dude (not a chef) with "an entrepreneurial spirit" who learned how to make 7 "fine dining" dishes. We were fed "exotic" cat fish, tuna that was brown but according to him the fisherman says thats as fredh as it gets (BS). They did an experimental tostada dish and it was sour as heck. It sucks that it was one of our dishes. Our drive home was silent until my wife looked over and asked "did we just get ripped off?". We laugh about it now but still doesnt sit right with me. Its fine for people who dont have much experience with fine dining but if you do enough of it, youll know youve been played.

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18. SH

    ShaidaH

    Washington DC

    11 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    11 reviews

    Dined on March 29, 2018

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    What an amazing time we had at HiR! All 7 dishes were absolutely delightful amid a backdrop of the jungle. Our 13 year old has been a pretty picky eater so it was a risk for us to include her in our fine dining experience. Chef Noam asked if we had and dietary restrictions when we booked - other than pork we had none and gave him free reign. And what a performance! It was tough to single out our favorite dish from any of the many prepared with the greatest of expertise. And the biggest fan of the evening - the 13 year old! We travel the world as a family and unanimously agreed that this dining experience was hands down the best one of our lives. With that in mind, do not let the price hold you back - this experience is loads better (and more memorable) than a broadway play - and you leave with a full belly to boot!

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19. AS

    AndrewS

    San Francisco

    2 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on August 19, 2017

    overall5food5service5ambience3

    Outstanding and unique experience!

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20. AW

    AlexW

    Costa Rica

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on June 22, 2017

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    HiR Fine Dining provides a calm, welcoming atmosphere, a kindhearted & creative chef, many incredible & unique courses, and and unforgettable experience overall. Chef Noam is an intriguing man who will never fail to delight your palate with his dishes. Our time at HiR was worth every penny, and I cannot wait until my next opportunity to dine there arises.

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