| Puerto Vallarta Restaurant Reviews |
| El Dorado Restaurant & Bar Seafood and Steaks, Mexican style Pulpito 102 at Los Muertos Beach, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico 222-4124 |
Puerto Vallarta Restaurant Review:
El Dorado Restaurant & Bar is one of the classier beach places on Playa Los Muertos,
downtown.
SETTING - The beach just south of the pier. Under the roof is their breezy, open air dining
area, or if you're in the beach mood, you can take a table under a thatched umbrella (palapa) on
the sand. The restaurant adjoins the very nice El Dorado Condomiums.
FOOD - The extensive dinner menu is centered on seafood (and steaks) with a Puerto Vallarta
touch. It's similar at lunch, but with some Mexican dishes added. They'll start you with chips
and a creamy bean dip that is maybe the best I've ever had -- you won't leave any. Among the
many appetizers, I like the Crab (or Marlin) Tacos drizzled with Chipotle sauce, subtly spicy on
the soft tortillas. The Avocado Stuffed with Shrimp is another winner. And there are a lot of
salads and soups. Among the entrees, their Seafood-stuffed Poblano Chile is excellent, and the
Catch of the Day can be prepared however you want it, 6 different ways. Frankly, I haven't
tried the steaks, but I can tell you that in Mexico, they tend to be very tasty, but not always
Choice or Prime cuts. But I'd guess that El Dorado has some good ones. Check out the menus at
their web site.
AMBIANCE - Nicer than the average beach-front restaurant. The main dining area is linen
tablecloth (but not overly dressy) while the beach tables with their canvas loungers are very
casual. Smooth service and a loyal clientele, many on extended stays nearby. You may see
people who are on a first-name basis with the wait staff, or it may be ladies-who-lunch, pecking
the manager on the cheek.
DRINKS - In my ongoing search for the perfect margarita, I determined that El Dorado has
an exceptionally fine margarita on the rocks. The second one is even better. Bottoms up.
BOTTOM LINE - Good food and good service at El Dorado, a slightly more upscale beach
restaurant.
El Dorado Restaurant & Bar is one of the classier beach places on Playa Los Muertos,
downtown.
SETTING - The beach just south of the pier. Under the roof is their breezy, open air dining
area, or if you're in the beach mood, you can take a table under a thatched umbrella (palapa) on
the sand. The restaurant adjoins the very nice El Dorado Condomiums.
FOOD - The extensive dinner menu is centered on seafood (and steaks) with a Puerto Vallarta
touch. It's similar at lunch, but with some Mexican dishes added. They'll start you with chips
and a creamy bean dip that is maybe the best I've ever had -- you won't leave any. Among the
many appetizers, I like the Crab (or Marlin) Tacos drizzled with Chipotle sauce, subtly spicy on
the soft tortillas. The Avocado Stuffed with Shrimp is another winner. And there are a lot of
salads and soups. Among the entrees, their Seafood-stuffed Poblano Chile is excellent, and the
Catch of the Day can be prepared however you want it, 6 different ways. Frankly, I haven't
tried the steaks, but I can tell you that in Mexico, they tend to be very tasty, but not always
Choice or Prime cuts. But I'd guess that El Dorado has some good ones. Check out the menus at
their web site.
AMBIANCE - Nicer than the average beach-front restaurant. The main dining area is linen
tablecloth (but not overly dressy) while the beach tables with their canvas loungers are very
casual. Smooth service and a loyal clientele, many on extended stays nearby. You may see
people who are on a first-name basis with the wait staff, or it may be ladies-who-lunch, pecking
the manager on the cheek.
DRINKS - In my ongoing search for the perfect margarita, I determined that El Dorado has
an exceptionally fine margarita on the rocks. The second one is even better. Bottoms up.
BOTTOM LINE - Good food and good service at El Dorado, a slightly more upscale beach
restaurant.
