So.. I dropped the ball. As it turns out having a blog is time consuming. Not to mention I can be a bit...lazy at times. Oy.
Recently, I’ve been using TripAdvisor to determine what restaurants I should check out while I am in a city. I recently went to Puerto Vallarta and decided to check out it’s number one restaurant on TripAdvisor. Ocean Grill.
According to TripAdvisor, this restaurant opened about 5 months ago. It is a simple lunch spot with great ambiance as well as delectable food. Located about 15 miles south of Old Puerto Vallarta. I figured this would be an ideal place to take Bud for lunch while we were on vacation.
Our day began with a cab ride from our hotel to a town called Tomatlan. How anyone drives stick shift is beyond me. How anyone drives stick shift in the mountains of Mexico is unfathomable. But alas, 30 minutes later we were dropped off in the middle of a Mexican fishing village. Here we were greeted by stray dogs (at least they seemed stray) roosters, and Mexican men, women, and children with looks of judgement. I don’t know if it was the fact that a cab had come into town, or the fact that here was a grown ass man standing before them in booty shorts, red converse, and a t-shirt with a giant Snoopy on it.
According to Ocean Grills website we have the option of calling a water taxi for a quick 5 minute ride or we can be adventurous and do the sensible 45 minute hike to Playa Colomitos where the restaurant is located. Having been slightly judge by my poor choice in wardrobe for the days adventure, I insisted Bud and I do the sensible hike.
Sensible my ass. I am a pretty active person. Take an active person, throw them in a middle of a jungle, with two mountains to climb over (I use the word mountain loosely), and on top of all this improper footwear and 95 degrees Fahrenheit and 99% humidity. Bud didn’t speak to me the entire hike. I didn’t speak to me either.
30 minutes into the hike, we reached the point of no return. Here we were in the middle of a Mexican jungle, no cell phone service, no one knows where we are, when suddenly there it is. The cove we have been searching for. There was a moment where I felt like Brooke Shields in “Blue Lagoon” as through the shrubbery there lay a secluded beach with untouched sand and a calm ocean hum.
As we descended down the mountain we finally came upon Ocean Grill. The restaurant doesn’t seem like much at first. Just a small home on the side of the cliff. As we approached the main entrance we quickly put on our shirts which we removed at some point during the hike in order to be presentable. Two seconds later our shirts were soaked with sweat as well as our shorts, underwear, socks, backpacks, and dignity.
We sat buy a giant fan on the edge of the cliff, ordered two margaritas and whatever she suggested to start with.
The next hours feast made everything worthwhile. We started with one of the best fish ceviches I have ever eaten. For those of you that don’t know, fish ceviche is usually mahi mahi, tomatoes, jalapenos, and red onion soaked in lemon juice. garnish with cilantro and an avocado wedge you are good to go. The balance of flavor in this was exceptional, not to mention the consistency of the fish, there was still texture to it, it didn’t just dissolve in your mouth. Add a generous amount of black pepper and I was in heaven.
Along with the ceviche, we were treated to Smoked Marlin Tostadas. This was a treat. To me, Marlin is similar to Tuna in taste, its a little denser, but full of so much flavor. According to the waitress the smoke their marlin daily to keep their servings as fresh as possible. There was a sweet and sour taste to it that still tickles my tongue as I type.
For our entrees, I ordered the grilled Octopus. Not chewy at all. In fact, it was the most succulent and tender octopus I have ever had. With an olive tapenade to accompany as well as a pineapple compote it was heavy enough to fill me up, yet light enough to not add to the heat that the Giant fan was still not eradicating. Bud ordered the catch of the day with was a Red Snapper. Grilled and topped with lime juice and topped with smoked red chili peppers, the fish just fell apart and melted in your mouth like butter. Served with char grilled vegetables, both meals were light, filling and in my mind low calorie.
We didn’t save room for dessert. We did however safe room for a few more margaritas.
All in all, if you ever find yourself in Puerto Vallarta, Ocean Grill is worth the trip. However, I recommend the water taxi (you better believe we took it on the way back).
