Puerto Vallarta, Mexico – Just like a fine wine, a new restaurant needs time to breathe before one fully savors it. Thus, after allowing Awaysis its breathing space, I set out, armed with online kudos and friends’ reviews about the superior quality of the food now served. A refreshing surprise, indeed, considering that food was never quite the protagonist at this venue. I came equipped with an empty stomach and high expectations, ready to explore a casual menu with carb-laden delicacies and guilt-inducing libations.
Upon entering at their opening hour of 3:00 PM on a rain-soaked Saturday, we found ourselves amidst the charming solitude of an almost-empty restaurant – a recurring sight in Vallarta this time of year. The silver lining? An undivided audience with the bartender. A quick skim through the “Triple Shot” menu landed me with a Long Island Iced Tea ($170 pesos). Now, this – this was a cocktail. No doubt, the best I’ve had in Vallarta. The bar menu is extensive and generally very well priced.
To start, my companion and I shared an Awaysis Garlic Caesar ($140 pesos). The romaine was a bit limp, but the spot-on dressing and the portion size more than compensated for it. I, for one, can never have too much garlic. In fact, their menu states there is enough to “ward off any vampires,” and this salad didn’t disappoint in that aspect.
However, the star of the show, or so I hoped, was my Away Burger ($200 pesos), with an 8oz Angus patty, house-made candied jalapeños, Manchego cheese, crispy fried onions, and mayo. Despite the promise of these ingredients, the performance fell flat. The patty was thin and dense (possibly from Costco, or so it tasted like), the onions were no more than scattered fried bits mostly on the plate, and the overall flavor seemed akin to a beachside burger at half its price. Disappointing? Yes. Catastrophic? Not quite.
My partner opted for the Torta Milanese ($175 pesos), a breaded chicken sandwich with Chipotle mayo, the same fried onion bits, queso fresco, lettuce, tomato, and jalapeños. However, the flavorful chicken patty was of modest size, and the rest of the ingredients were just sort of all mushed together. However, his side of home fries was a delightful crunch that surpassed my also tasty French fries.
In retrospect, Awaysis was a pleasant pit stop. Would we return? Yes, for the spirited live entertainment and potent cocktails. But, it seems, at least for now, the food remains an understudy at this location. Perhaps, the future will bring a more satisfying culinary performance. We’ll be back, but let’s hope our next visit isn’t our last.
I give Awaysis:
Aquiles Serdán 625, Zona Romántica, Emiliano Zapata, 48380
Open Tues thru Sat 3 PM to 12 AM – Closed Sun & Mon
Reservations: 322-286-9416
Delivery: rappi.com.mx ubereats.com
I welcome your comments or suggestions of restaurants to try at TheHungryCriticPV(at)gmail.com.
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