For the 25th year, Dragon Boat races return to The Woodlands! The YMCA is proud to announce that Repsol is returning as the presenting sponsor, a partnership that began in 2015. 

"As a multi-energy company committed to empowering our communities, we are proud to sponsor the 2024 Dragon Boat event in partnership with the YMCA. This initiative not only strengthens community bonds but also aligns with our values of supporting wellness, teamwork, and social responsibility. Together, we're rowing towards a brighter, healthier future”, said Repsol’s HR Sr. Manager, Nick Cheesman.

I'm still sooo amazingly full and satisfied from the dinner + retreat I had three days ago!

I say "retreat," because that's what the eclectic dining experience at Costa Fina Latin Coastal Kitchen feels like. Frankly, it’s what it looks like, too. Get a taste of this:

 

SCENE FIT FOR A QUEEN

The evening began with a gorgeous, flawlessly designed setting, an exotic, well-thought-out menu of delicious scratch-made food (flavors inspired by Argentina, Mexico, Venezuela, and other Latin American regions), and the cherry on top was the cool, chillax ambience (a bit of romance, a dash of spice, and a whole lot of elegance). Add in down-home hospitality (our server, Frank, was friendly, knowledgeable, and highly attentive), and we had the makings of an unforgettable Date Night only a few minutes away from home.

If I forgot my own name as I approached the host stand after walking into this restaurant, it's because I was truly stunned to learn a place this gorgeous has been right here in The Woodlands - less than 10 minutes from my house - since January 2024!

Costa Fina is located at 26435 Kuykendahl Rd Ste 900 in The Woodlands Village of Creekside Park. The decor is amazing and vibrant, yet the lush botanicals and chic, subdued colors take the atmosphere up several notches above the typical Latin American restaurant.

Sophistication is the word I've settled on for now. I felt like I was dining at an upscale island resort, and Costa Fina definitely gives a "let me put on my cute linen dress and my Ariana Grande ponytail because I need a fun, elevated ensemble to match this vibe" vibe! (Yes, I know I used “vibe” twice. Read it again. I promise it makes sense!)

It was Date Night for me and my beau, but this restaurant is just as perfect for Girls Night Out, a business luncheon, or impressing your father-in-law, and - of course I asked - they have a few kids menu options in case you bring little ones along!

THE BODACIOUS BAR

And look at this bar! (Seriously, do you see this?) It's extravagant! Happy Hour never looked so good! (More on that later.) Oh, and I ordered a sweet and fruity Mango & Pineapple mocktail. It was bright and pretty, served with a chamoy-covered lime and a tajin rim.

DINNER'S A WINNER!

I’m not naïve enough to think you’re here just to hear me ramble. You came for the food! And it’s the food you shall get! Ah-mazing selections here, I'm excited to say! Lots of original options, and even if you see something on the menu that looks familiar, you can bet it's going to have its own Costa Fina flavor, so you'll really get something unique.

Our meal started off with a large plate of fresh, warm, crunchy plantains and chimichurri sauce that came to the table complimentary! A delightful surprise!

For appetizers, Frank suggested the Crema Poblana which looked simple but was marvelous, and that's no exaggeration. It’s a creamy, roasted poblano soup that was lick-the-bowl good (but I promise I didn't!). The soup was comforting, full of flavor, slightly spicy, and had a smoky undertone to it. I told my husband I'll be ordering this “to go” on the regular once the cool weather kicks in, to bring home and eat it in bed in front of the TV.

The slow-braised pork empanadas are served as 6 half pieces with cilantro sauce. They have a perfectly light and crispy crust, and the meat filling was scrumptious.

The appetizers menu boasts many other flavor-promising options like ceviche, smoked guacamole, and even calamari!

But what to choose for an entree? The Braised Lamb Shank? (I hear that it's fall-off-the-bone!) The Cuban Sandwich? It's meaty, cheesy, mouthwatering deliciousness, according to the photos I've seen!) Pork tacos? (Slow-braised pulled pork served with all the fixins!) 

I ended up choosing a Five-Star meal - the Surf & Turf - which includes a grilled 6-ounce beef tenderloin steak with chimichurri, broccolini, yucca, gallo pinto (a delectable rice dish), and three huge shrimp covered in some butter cream sauce.

It's a LOT of food! The plate is large and they fill it up, so you're getting your money's worth and then some! I was able to bring half the dish home to finish it for breakfast the next morning.

The Surf & Turf is undeniably rich, and I really appreciate the artistry of the chef and creation of this splendid combination of flavors. The rice had a bit of a kick to it, and everything was served hot and fresh. And even though I wasn’t quite a fan of my yucca fries, I still ate them because I felt like the chef had done such a fantastic job deciding what to include on this plate that I'd better have some appreciation for it.

I always order my steaks medium-well, which tends to yield a drier-than-I'd-prefer steak. Well, not here! My medium-well steak was cooked to perfection, and it was all-around succulent. I was pleasantly surprised! I would order the Surf & Turf here again and again (and again)!

My husband ordered the Arroz A La Marinera. We’d seen the dish ahead of time on the Costa Rica Instagram page and were drawn to it because it looks like a paella. It has ALL THE THINGS: saffon rice, scallops, octopus, squid, shrimp, mussels, chorizo, and more!

But it’s NOT a paella. This dish has a flavor all its own, and it's saucier than a typical paella which has a drier rice. I would say the texture of the rice here was more like what you'd find in risotto. If you prefer saucier dishes with fishier flavors, this beauty is one to try!

HEY, YOU'RE LOOKING SWEET!

For dessert, we ordered two more of Frank's recommendations - the Tres Leches and the churros. But look at my photo below. Does this look like any tres leches you’ve ever had?

I hardly recognized it! It was coated / topped with a beautiful toasted meringue, and the cake was soooo doggone good. Frank had warned that it wouldn't be as sweet as a typical tres leches, but I found the sweetness level to be about what I've come to expect for this type of dessert. Tres leches is all about texture as much as flavor for me, and this one was skillfully executed! Luscious, it was!

I’d planned to save some for my teen (who was babysitting her siblings for us), but when all was said and done, there was only a spoonful left of cake for the to-go box! Our gracious waiter didn't shame me about that either! He was happy to oblige when I asked if I could get it to go.

Listen... the churros didn't fare any better. They're palette-plesaing -- served warm, drizzled with caramel, and paired with dulce de leche ice cream. You get a good amount of churros (I think about 7), and I was certain hubby and I could limit ourselves to one or two each and bring a few home for the kids. Well... I hereby present you with the churros that we had left over to bring home:

I'm sorry, but they were so good, and I think they were hubby's favorite, along with his cappuccino.

LIVE MUSIC - LET'S TURN UP!

I'm excited for a chance to visit again, because there are many new experiences to have at this restaurant. For one, many other menu items were just begging to be tried, so I’ll have to continue the culinary journey some other time.

On Saturday nights, there's live Latin music on the expansive patio. Also, Mondays thru Fridays from 4-6pm and Sundays 6-9pm, there’s Happy Hour at the bar and patio with great prices on drinks and small plates. And every Tuesday there’s even a selection of half-priced bottles of Latin wine (valid on all bottles priced under $100)!

Visit Costa Fina on their websIte to check out the full menu and other highlights including their Live Music Schedule.

Also, keep up with them on Instagram and Facebook to see more photos and stay in the know!

Guests are invited to join in for an enchanting adventure with The Cynthia Woodlands Pavilion and Woodlands Symphony Orchestra at Once Upon a Symphony Wednesday, September 18, 2024. This family-friendly concert will be packed with stories that have inspired generations, including classical and popular music selections from Sleeping Beauty, The Chronicles of Narnia, Disney’s Tangled, Lord of the Rings, The Wizard of Oz and more. Tickets are not required for this completely free event and gates open at 6:30 p.m. for the 7:30 p.m. show.

Game Show Battle Rooms, the innovative entertainment destination that combines the thrill of live game shows with interactive fun, is excited to announce its official opening in Shenandoah’s Metropark Square. This exciting venue promises to deliver an unforgettable experience for guests of all ages. Located at 8980 Metropark Drive, Game Show Battle Rooms offers a unique entertainment experience where participants can step into the spotlight and compete in their favorite game show formats. From classic survey challenges to high-energy physical games, this venue features a variety of interactive rooms designed to engage and entertain.

The hot, sunny days are drawing to a close, making way for a cool and fresh autumn, the perfect recipe for an exciting road trip to Austin, the Capitol of Texas. But wait.. “What's in Austin?” you might be asking. In 3 words, ALL THE THINGS. From performing arts to museums and more, it's easy to keep yourself and your family occupied in this beautiful city that prides itself at being kinda quirky and "weird".