Romantic Puerto Vallarta

Cafe Bohemio
Puerto Vallerta
Mexico
June 25, 2010
9ish pm

I had read about this place on the tripadvisor.com forum for Puerto Vallarta.  Quite a few of the Puerto Vallarta frequenters highly recommended it and went on and on about how good the cherry cola ribs and meatloaf were.  Both of those entrees definitely weren't typically Mexican, but they sounded especially delicious to us and so we decided to give Cafe Bohemio a whirl. 

We walked to dinner just after sunset and because it was a weekday during the low season the streets were relatively quiet.  Cafe Bohemio was tucked away off the main street and particularly sleepy.  However, they were ready to serve us expertly when we arrived. 

We loved how quaint everything looked.  It was just what we had expected from Puerto Vallarta's old town
. 

Seating is al fresco and we were surrounded by the soft sounds of American Sinatra classics.  The ambiance was wonderful.  We were glad we had waited to eat until the sun went down because July in Mexico is hot! 

We were warmly welcomed as we were seated, and chips and salsa were immediately brought out.  The tomatillo salsa was wonderful, but the tomato salsa was not flavorful enough for me.  It reminded me more of a tomato puree rather than a salsa.  But that's okay, I just stuck with the tomatillo.   

As we looked over the menu the owner (I think) really wanted us to try the pea soup, as he had just made it that day and seemed really excited about it.  Of course, we obliged.  Fresh bread was also brought out and the butter tasted homemade.  The pea soup was wonderfully fresh and seemed to be a puree of peas and celery flavors.  It was a good start. 

True to our recommendations I ordered the cherry cola ribs and Erik went with the meatloaf. 

The ribs were good and the cherry cola sauce was delish.  There was just the right amount of tanginess and sweetness to compliment the meat.  This was served with a boiled potato and typical iceberg salad.  The sides were fine, but nothing special to write about. 

Erik went for the meatloaf.  Now this was a good meatloaf!  It was perfectly moist, flavorful, and smothered in a tangy sauce.  On the restaurant's facebook page the owner has a video of how he makes his meatloaf.  One of these days I'm am going to watch and then try to replicate!  Our server told us the meatloaf was especially good the evening we were there because it was the slow season and therefore, they do not make the meatloaf ahead of time.  So Erik's was made fresh and especially for him.  Boy did the taste show it!  This was served with the same iceberg salad as above and steak fries.  The fries were thick, crispy on the outside, and soft on the inside; just the way they should be.   

We were stuffed and happy at the end of this meal.  Then to top it off, I fell in love with the old word style of a handwritten bill.  Perfect. 

Bill total:  That's 303 pesos, folks, not dollars :)  It was roughly $26 before tip.  Mexico is quite the food bargain!

Overall Rating:  The great ambiance and hospitable service make this a 4 1/2 buckeye place.