| | |  Entertainment | Restaurants & Dining | May 2009 
Restaurant Week at The River Café
 Gary R. Beck - PVNN
| | The River Cafe's creative and ever-changing menu always offers diners a wide range of national and International dishes created with only the finest ingredients and elegant presentations. | |
| | Reservations are recommended and can be made by calling (322) 223-0788 or online at RiverCafe.com.mx |
In one of the most beautiful settings in Puerto Vallarta, on the banks of the Rio Cuale, lies the River Café. Owned by Margarito Larios and Eva Sánchez, this sophisticated restaurant is one of the hidden treasures of Puerto Vallarta, where candles flicker on romantic tables lining the river bank and tiny white lights wrap the palm trees surrounding the restaurant's multilevel terrace.
Chef Vicente Montes Gonzalez's creative and ever-changing menu offers diners a wide range of national and International dishes created with only the finest ingredients and elegantly eye-catching plate presentations, complimented by the professional staff's excellent service and attention to detail.
On May 23rd, we sampled all 9 choices on the special Restaurant Week menu, starting with the appetizers: Spinach Salad with bacon and cherry tomato halves tossed in light honey-mustard and topped with alfalfa sprouts. All components melded quite well.
Hearts of Romaine (entire long spears) with beet cubes, zucchini sliced and goat cheese in a sherry vinaigrette was crisp and refreshing. Very creamy warm Potato-Leek Soup was smooth and light in leek flavor... Delicately delicious.
Entrées chosen were Mahi Mahi, a thick moist fillet, topped with creamy poblano sauce on mushroom risotto. The underlining mild chile effect complemented, rather than overwhelmed, the delicate flavor of the fish.
Lamb Lasagna, thin succulent layers of house made noodles, was accented with goat cheese, tomato sauce and basil and topped with crisp Romaine lettuce. Each morsel provided rich, powerful bursts of meat and pasta. Again, restrained but remarkable. A Chicken Breast stuffed with earthy mushrooms and cheese arrived atop three-cheese fettuccine. Generous and attractive in plated appearance.
Not to be missed desserts included a Warm Chocolate Lava Cake with vanilla ice cream. It was small and round and sat atop a thin deep chocolate sauce. An Apple Burrito made with crisp puff pastry was served with vanilla ice cream. The pastry was thin and flaky with the filling bursting with sweet apple and spices, mainly cinnamon.
Fresh Coconut Flan, baked at the proper temperature, was decorated with thin swirls of red and green syrups, making a festive presentation of the colors of the Mexican flag. Follow dinner with one of their famous dessert coffees.
Located at Isla Rio Cuale #4 in downtown Puerto Vallarta, The River Cafe defines tropical elegance. Jazz music by famed Beverly and Willow is presented on Thursday-Sunday nights from 8-11 pm, mainly during high season. Open daily from 9 am to 11 pm. Reservations are recommended and can be made by calling (322) 223-0788 or online at RiverCafe.com.mx.
The author was supplied one choice in each of the 3 courses on the special Restaurant Week menu and this review is in no way connected to his independent restaurant guide, "Puerto Vallarta Restaurant Guide Beck's Best," where write-ups receive no compensation.
Restaurant Week continues through May 31st at some of the most recognized restaurants in Puerto Vallarta. For a list of participating restaurants and Restaurant Week 2009 reviews click HERE. |
|
| |
Vallarta Weddings
Tell a Friend
Site Map
Print this Page
Email Us