| | |  Entertainment | Restaurants & Dining 
Quixote's - Tapas from the Heart of Spain
 Gary R. Beck - PVNN
January 05, 2011
| | Quixote's Tapas is located at Paseo de la Marina at 16 de Septiembre L-42, Villa 5 in Nuevo Vallarta, Nayarit. For more information, visit QuixotesTapas.com. For reservations, call (322) 297-5455. | |
Perched alongside Nuevo Vallarta's Marina with views of much boat activity, including Vallarta Adventures, Quixote's Tapas has an open air covered seating area in addition to interior tables away from the pedestrian activity.
When owner Cliff Prowal designed the restaurant and the building which houses it, approaching three years ago, he felt the area needed a cuisine which contributed to current Mexican expectations in part - the fine flavors of Spain.
On the menu is stated: "Three things held dearest to most Spaniards - good food, good wine and an opportunity for convival conversation." He provides all three to his guests, is affable and chats with every single table of diners.
On a recent visit, we started with thin slices of Cold Smoked Marlin with caramelized onions (adding slight sweetness) and capers on grilled garlic toast. The fish bore no resemblance to the chopped smoked marlin found locally for taco making. Its texture was very similar to smoked salmon and proved just as delicious.
Baked Goat Cheese is always a temptation. It was served with Pomodoro sauce and a poached fig and red wine preserve. Baffling critics, the combination of flavors worked successfully.
Grilled Asparagus, spears rather thick but al dente, tender and bright green, crisp bacon and crumbled Feta cheese arrived with a crisp Parmesan cracker. Salty, tangy and fresh, it was a pleasure. The Croquettes in seasoned bread crumbs were succulent by mixing hot into hot with potato as the binder, not a glue.
Large, fresh Baja Black Mussels were steamed and served with saffron cream sauce. Bread was a necessary tool to soak up the broth. Slow Oven Roasted Roma Tomatoes combined with fresh basil and Parmesan cheese were scooped onto toast points. All the flavors had melded as one. Other temptations for future visits are Yellowfin Tuna Carpaccio, Paella (seafood or meat) and Beet and Goat Cheese Salad or the Potato Salad with alioli.
Delightful desserts are also presented, big enough to share, as with the tapas. Molten Chocolate Cake with a lava center, oozed in warm delight blending with a dollop of vanilla ice cream. Reese's version of this cake is injected with peanut cream and garnished with salted peanuts.
 Bring several friends or family since Quixote's is a dining destination where small plates may be chosen and passed around the table. For one price, you are therefore able to taste quite a number of creations from this very fine kitchen. There is something for everyone on their large menu.
Open daily from 5-11 pm, Quixote's Tapas is located at Paseo de la Marina at 16 de Septiembre L-42, Villa 5 in Nuevo Vallarta, Nayarit. For more information, visit QuixotesTapas.com. For reservations, call (322) 297-5455.
 After 20 years in the San Francisco restaurant business, Gary R. Beck turned his attentions to cooking, dining out, creating recipes and exploring Puerto Vallarta's rich array of eateries. Famous for his restaurant guide, available online at CafePress.com or Lulu.com, Gary also writes restaurant reviews for Puerto Vallarta newspapers, Bay Area magazines, and now, a feature column for BanderasNews.com. Contact Gary at garyrbeck1(at)yahoo.com.
Click HERE for more articles by Gary R. Beck. |
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