Food

Since Boca Chica [1] was once a small fishing village, the seafood here is fresh and plentiful. Both Dominicans and foreigners own many of the restaurants here, so international choices such as Italian, Creole, American, and Swiss cuisine can be found. The most adventurous way to find food is to stroll down the beach or Calle Duarte and browse the many small restaurants and freidurías (stands where fish and other things are fried) until you find one that is appealing to you.

The local dishes like lambí criolla (conch in a Creole-style sauce), yaniqueques (a type of fried bread), and the daily fried fish with fresh lime squeezed over it are delectable choices for lunch. Don’t rule out this choice for a quick lunch. They are fast, fresh, and traditional Dominican dishes.

When buying food from the vendors or at the beachside restaurants, make sure the prices are solid before ordering or you could find yourself with an astronomical bill. It is an unfortunate but common scam to hike the bill up for the tourist who doesn’t know the exchange rate beforehand.

Should you need provisions for your room or have a kitchen in your room and want to cook on your own, there is a Supermarket on the corner of Calle Duarte and Calle Juanico García (open 9 a.m.–8 p.m. Mon.–Sat., 9 a.m.–6 p.m. Sun.).

Boca Marina

Located in the tourist zone of Boca Chica [1] and directly on the water, Boca Marina (Calle Duarte 12A, tel. 809/523-6702 or 809/688-6810 reservations, bocamarina [at] hotmail [dot] com/, 11 a.m.–midnight daily, US$9–24) allows you to appreciate the natural beauty of Boca Chica while dining amid the seashell decor. It’s definitely a hot spot that requires reservations during peak season.

The 130-option menu features seafood. The food is prepared fresh with a distinctively Mediterranean influence. If you can swing it, try the grilled lobster for about US$24 per pound. One of the most popular dishes is shrimp in Thai sauce.

During the day, Boca Marina poses as a beach club where people can swim, sunbathe, order food and drinks, and rack Boca Marina is good for families as well since it has a special kids’ swimming area and a special children’s menu. At night the atmosphere is soaked in romance, and if you’re fortunate enough to be in Boca Chica for a full moon, Boca Marina is a must for a late dinner. Secure and free parking is available.

Neptuno’s Club Restaurant

Similar to Boca Marina [2] but more affordable is the recently renovated Neptuno’s Club Restaurant (Calle Duarte 12, tel. 809/523-4703, fax 809/523-4251, 9 a.m.–10:30 p.m. Tues.–Sun., US$16–30). Specialties are seafood, including popular dishes like mahimahi ceviche and Spanish tapas to get your appetite going. Guests arrive by land and sea, anchoring boats just a bit clear of the shallow swimming space and walking in the water to get a table on the deck.

This is a wonderful spot to spend your afternoon with the kids swimming and enjoying great and affordable food. Neptuno’s boasts that it uses only organic food (such as the vegetables that are grown by local nuns and sweet-water shrimp free of chemicals) and never uses a microwave. There’s a full bar, service for large groups, secure parking, and wheelchair-accessibility.