Budget
If you want to spend less than US $8 on a decent meal and drink:
Comedores offer a âPlato del DÃaâ or predetermined meal of the day usually rice, beans, salad and meat or chicken, and a soda for just US$3 â 8. Cafeterias and Comedores can be found everywhere around the city but specially around business areas and universities, this is where locals eat so is a great way of getting in touch with the culture. âMimosaâ, located on Padre Billini street in the Colonial Zone, offers a great variety of tasty local food during lunch hours. Another great option is Cafeteria "El Parque" which is in front of Eugenio Maria de Hostos Park attached to the "Clinica Abreu" one of the country's best and most prestigious clinic,close to the Colonial Zone and the Malecon, great place for breakfast, lunch and an early dinner.
"Barra Payán", located on 30 de marzo street only five minutes from the Colonial Zone, is open seven days a week, 24 hours a day. A sandwich cafeteria, the place has been a traditional eatery for more than a half century. Buy a sandwich and a delicious squeezed-to-order fruit juice or milkshake for less than US$ 5.
At some point in history Dominicans became quite fond of fried chicken and chinese food, combining both cuisines into fast food establishments known as "pica pollos". These are usually take-out joints run by first or second generation chinese immigrants, serving up heaping portions of fried rice, plantain slices and tasty and greasy fried chicken, along with the usual variety of chinese comfort food. Very inexpensive. Visit Santo Domingo's China Town, near the Mercado Modelo and not far from the Colonial Zone Duarte Avenue, a very busy zone where working class people do a lot of their shopping. If you feel adventurous enough to enter this usually chaotic but very picturesque part of the town it would an experience to remember. Keep in mind, pick-pockets love the crowded streets, watch your belongings closely.
A Mcdonalds combo costs around US$ 5, Taco Bell, Wendys and Pizza Hut around US$ 6. There are also several very good local franchises like Pizzarelli (http://www.pizzarelli.com...) you can have pasta, pizza or a salad for no more than US$ 10, and others like Pollos Victorina. Also, don't miss some good Dominican "empanadas" at De Nosotros Empanadas. Interesting note: you can walk into a McDonalds in Santo Domingo and order a value meal with a Presidente beer instead of a Coke. How cool is that?
Midrange
Adrian Tropical
A unique, quality and "affordable" dining experience. there are three restaurants in the city, the coolest one is literally built on the water in the malecon. best known for its "mofongo" dish. this plate is made out of mashed plantains.
Yokomo
The dominican sushi franchise. enjoy the most unique and inventive dominican-fushion sushi, such as sushi with sweet plantains.
Outback Steak House
In acropolis mall
Tony Roma's
In the sarasota avenue
Lincoln Road
On the abraham lincoln avenue, this restaurant has recently been remodeled.
Red Grill
A very trendy grill with several locations in the city. one is located in plaza orleans, another one has its own bar on top. pricier, but not a splurge.
El Conuco
Very touristy and rather affordable restaurant in gazcue, where you can enjoy live traditional dominican dances.
TGI Fridays
In acropolis mall
Sapore d'Italia
Another mid-range, very good italian restaurant.
La Lasagna
And yet another good italian restaurant, very good and pretty affordable.
Buen Provecho
Middle range restaurant serving different types of food, a good place to get the "dominican flag" of meat with rice and beans.
Hard Rock Cafe
In the colonial zone, facing the cathedral
Chef Pepper
Also very trendy, and it just opened a new branch in bella vista. if you're craving a hamburger or a steak and cheese sandwich, this is a good place to go.
American and international midrange franchises include:
L'Osteria
A mid-range but very high quality italian restaurant, facing the national theater.
Atras
And cinnamon in plaza orleans, two contiguous open-air restaurants. in this plaza you can order from any restaurant while sitting in the courtyard.
Falafel
In the colonial zone, a good and affordable near eastern restaurant specializing in, as the name suggests it, falafel.
Top end
Marocha
Very popular cafe/restaurant, especially because of its "churros"
Mitre
Chic restaurant and wine bar
Sofia's
Mediterranean cuisine.
Don Pepe
Fancy spanish restaurant, very pricey
Scherezade
Middle eastern/mediterranean restaurant, with a lunch buffet on sundays.
Mesón de Bari
One of the classiest restaurants for dominican cuisine
Porter House Grill
Steakhouse
Pat'e Palo
Colonial spanish/mediterranean brasserie style restaurant, situated by the "plaza de espana" overlooking the "alcazar de colon" frequented by locals
Lupe
Right next to marocha, mexican restaurant
La Marrana
Very trendy spanish restaurant
Mesón de la Cava
An expensive average restaurant whose chief gimmick is being located within a natural cave underground.
Cane
Jaleo and tangerine three contiguous "dominican fusion" bar/restaurants
La Briciola
Fancy italian restaurant in a colonial garden
Fellini's
Fancy italian
David Crockett
The most expensive steak house.
El Vesuvio
The oldest and finest italian restaurant on the island, bar none, located on the malecon
Aka
Possibly the most popular japanese restaurant
Any of the restaurants around Gustavo Mejia Ricart Avenue
Pepperoni Grille
Upscale, modern italian.
Tabu Bambu
Asian fusion
The following are not very touristy, mostly being frequented by locals. However, if you want to explore how the wealthier classes dine in Santo Domingo, these are the places to go:
Michelangelo Restaurant
The average price is about six to fourteen dollars a plate, a international menu that includes, imported seafood, imported pasta and cheese, imported steaks and some of the most popular Dominican cuisine. The decoration is artistic, with Michaelangelo finest works on the walls but at the same time very modern and chic all in white, with a outdoor terrace to enjoy frozen cocktails and wine overlooking one of the most popular avenue in the city. The restaurant products are mostly imported and they only cook with bottle water, making it one of the most safe place to eat.
If you have to ask how much, you can't afford these places. The following are very tourist-friendly:
Sixteen Cuts Restaurant & Marine Lounge
This is by far the best kept secret in santo domingo. offers one of the most exclusive views of the colonial zone. has an excellent international menu, being its main courses the black angus and us certified cuts, divided in: 16 tapas & entrees, 16 greatest & newest cuts,16 ultimates sides. all this complemented with a delicious offer of seafood meals, fresh salads and "more great cuisineâ, all harmonized with their wine selection. avenida miguel barcelo #1, marina bartolome colon, tel. 809-827-0660, 809-594-9634.
Santo Domingo offers a variety of cuisines from around the world from Chinese, Italian and Mediterranean to Brazillian. You can also find the main fast food franchises like McDonalds, Burger King, Pizza Hut, Wendyâs, Taco Bell, among others.
Be aware that mid-grade and high-end restaurants can be quite costly for third world standards, a dinner with an entrée, main course, drink and dessert can range from US $15-$75 per person, plus 10% mandatory tip plus 16% ITBIS tax. Be careful and ask around as price doesn't always equal quality, especially in tourist areas.
Note: Unless the contrary is specified menu prices donât include the 10% service charge and 16% sales tax, so real prices are 26% higher than indicated in the menu.