by local news TRIBUNE
Gone, but Not Forgotten
I have often thought that an annual listing such as the one that follows could be a very interesting publication, listing the businesses that have left the PV scene for one reason or another, over the last decade or so...
180 – Basilio Badillo 180
4 Nutrition – Blvd. Fco. M. Ascencio
5th Avenida – Marina del Rey L–4A
Abadia Basso – Hidalgo 224
Adobe Café – Basilio Badillo 252
Akira (where Quimixto is now)
Amsterdam
Archi’s Burger – Pipila 799
Arigato – Panama – Good little Japanese restaurant. A small place, off the beaten path.
Arnoldis Chocolate – Not a restaurant, but a small chocolate shop in the Mega complex. Good chocolates, but not enough exposure, and their hours were not predictable.
Avanzaré at the Holiday Inn
Bavaria – Lazaro Cardenas 454
Beachcomber Restaurant – Aquiles Serdan
Benedetti’s Pizza – Lucerna 105
Benitto’s – Juarez
Beto’s Burger – Collage Street, L18A
Bianco – Insurgentes
Bobo’s Bar – Another place that was apparently successful, but the owner enjoyed too much of the good life, and the temptations that go with it.
Bombo’s – Corona 327
Bonsai Sushi – Basilio Badillo 331
Bruno’s #3 Steakhouse – Olas Altas 465
Café El Centro – Fco Madero 426
Cafe Frankfurt – Basilio Badillo 300 – A good German restaurant, but it didn’t have the exposure needed to make it a success. The owner opened another place a block away (Hacienda Aleman).
Café Magana – Lazaro Cardenas 40, Bucerias
Café Mediterraneo
Café Ole – Basilio Badillo
California Restaurant – Paseo Diaz Ordaz 720 & Plaza Villas Vallarta
Captain Morgan’s – Marina
Carisma Cafe – Basilio Badillo 283
Caruso’s – Where Bianco took over
Casa Fregoso – Av. México 1119
Chabelita – Marina del Rey, L-4
Chavas – Lazaro Cardenas 328
CheeseBurger in Paradise – Paseo Diaz Ordaz 740
Chef Roger – Basilio Badillo 180
Citrus (1) – Plaza Genovesa
Cookies – Paradise Village Mall
Cueva de Tania – Plaza Villas Vallarta
Cuiza (on the Isla Cuale, where Grace (?) is now)
Da Antonio’s – at the InterContinental Hotel
Da Franco’s – Centro Comercial Costa Alegre
Delicioso – Hidalgo 536
Desperado Yacht Club
El Candil – Quinta Real Hotel, Marina
El Circo – Marina del Rey L-3
El Guamuchilito – Aquiles Serdan 438
El Jaguar – (where Los Alcatraces II and Saffron were, at 220 Pulpito)
El Jardin – Juarez 336
El Palmar at the Westin
El Patio (Benjamin) – Francisco Madero
El Patio Fundo – Francia
El Santuario – Calle Independencia, near cathedral
Etc. – 336 Olas Altas – Moved to Nuevo Vallarta.
Fish & Taco Vallarta – Ave. Mexico
Flaming Sombrero - 31 de diciembre - great concept, no so great location
Fondue -
Full-O-bull – Fca. Rodriquez 136
Fusion Gourmet
Garibaldi’s – Westin Regina
Gato Gordo Deli - I. L. Vallarta, another excellent little spot that bit the dust due to landlord greed
Gatos & Gatos – I. L. Vallarta
Graffity – Miramar 271
Guido´s – Paradise Village Mall – Moved to a different location in Nuevo Vallarta, where the rent wasn’t as high.
Hidden Garden Restaurant – Hotel Molino de Agua
Ibiza – 315 Pino Suarez
Il Padrino – 143 Rodolfo Gomez
Istanbul – Lazaro Cardenas
Jardin & Grill – Blvd. Fco. M. Ascencio Km 2.5
Jerusalem Gold – Nice idea, but the prices scared away too many clients, and the owner wouldn’t take advice from people with experience here.
Joe’s Pizza –
La Admirante – Marina
La Bamba – Basilio Badillo 212
La Bodega de Nina – Pulpito 220
La Cave – Encino 245 – This place existed (barely) for many years. The food varied from great to «return to the kitchen», depending on who was running the kitchen.
La Cueva de Tatiana –
La Flor de Agave – Plaza Genovesa
La Marinera – Marina
La Nube (belonged to Luigi and Thierry Blouet) Great Italian food, décor and view!
La Parrilla – Marina del Rey 9B
La Paz Fonda Mexicana – Marina del Rey 1A
La Perla – at the Camino Real (Dreams today)
La Sirena Gorda – Olas Altas
La Taberna – Marina
La Valentina – F–18, Plaza Las Glorias
Las Brisas – Aquiles Serdan 438
Lazzard
Le Fauburg – Pilitas 174
Lone Star Country Kitchen – Marina del Rey 17, Marina Vallarta – A young man with a great education from one of the best culinary schools in the US, opened this place with the aid of his father’s money. Unfortunately, he enjoyed the party life more that the culinary life and had to choose between partying and working. Last heard from, he was working on an off-shore oil rig where temptations do not exist.
Los Alcatraces II – where El Jaguar and Saffron were)
Los Milagros – Juarez & Pipila
Los Pibes – Royal Pacific L-10
Maria Bonita (at the then Camino Real)
Maria’s of Chicago – Ignacio L. Vallarta 230
Mary – Lucerna 142
Mediteranio Café/Deli
Mezzaluna
Mi Casa Buffet
Momma Mia – Marina del Rey L-A, and then at the corner of Pino Suarez and Basilio Badillo. Willie & Lobo used to perform there.
Oasis - Owner arrested for being in cahoots with Alyn Waage
Once Upon A Time - At the foot of the southbound bridge, next to Santander bank. The best homemade ice cream around, bar none. Made on the spot for all to see. The owner couldn’t cope with the high rent any longer, and besides, they were about to raze the park to build the Benito Juarez garage.
O’Vento – Olas Altas 391
Palacio Oriental – Lazaro Cardenas
Pancho Pizza – Amapas 325
Papa Gordo’s – Francia 135 – Two men with many, many years experience in the pizza business, started a pizza restaurant. Things went well, and their business was growing. Something went wrong, the partnership dissolved, and the business closed.
Papaya 3 – Olas Altas 469
Pastel du Village - Lazaro Cardenas - reopened as Café Paris
Pata Salada (where Quimixto is now)
Pizza Joe’s – Basilio Badillo – A good Italian restaurant, but the owners found they were making more money selling sculptures and art. They converted the restaurant to an art gallery, where they remain in business to this day (Galeria Dante).
Planet Hollywood – Morelos 518 - Big todo when Arnold Schwartzenegger and Bruce Willis and Demi Moore were here for the opening.
Popeye’s – Terminal Marina – The chain in the US (Popeye’s Fried Chicken) paid the owner to change the name so that they could bring the chain to PV without a name conflict. When the husband of the owner lost his job as a GM of a hotel, the restaurant was sold, and the husband and wife left PV.
Porphyria – Olas Altas 443 (2nd floor)
Port Hole Las Palmas II, Local 1, Marina Vallarta
Prego! – Plaza Villas Vallarta
Pueblo Real – Juarez 614 – This story is really tragic. The owner fell in love with a woman who was vacationing from the US. After a long distance courtship, she returned to PV, where they were married. She invested in the restaurant, to expand it and increase it’s capacity. Things were going well for a couple of years, and when she was on vacation in the US, visiting family, she was fatally injured in an auto accident. The restaurant has been closed ever since.
Ranchero – Olas Altas 474
Really Rosie’s - 31 de diciembre
Red Onion – Olas Altas & Francisco I. Madero
Remembranzas – Pulpito 242 –
Rendez-vous –
Restaurant El Farallon – Lazaro Cardenas & Olas Altas
Restaurante Marusso – Lisboa 119
Restaurante Peking – 1st Floor, Plaza Neptuno – The only Chinese restaurant in PV with a chef (and staff) from Shanghi, China. They moved to the Olas Altas area, next to Archie’s Wok.
Richard’s – Aquiles Serdan 194
Rincon de Buenos Aires – Olas Altas 507
Rincon Vallarta Campestre – Pino Suarez 111
Ristorante Romano – Basilio Badillo 419 – This was a fairly good Italian restaurant, but it was avoided by many locals.
Rito’s Baci – J. O. Dominguez 181 I have often thought that an annual listing such as the one that follows could be a very interesting publication, listing the businesses that have left the PV scene for one reason or another, over the last decade or so...
180 – Basilio Badillo 180
4 Nutrition – Blvd. Fco. M. Ascencio
5th Avenida – Marina del Rey L–4A
Abadia Basso – Hidalgo 224
Adobe Café – Basilio Badillo 252
Akira (where Quimixto is now)
Amsterdam
Archi’s Burger – Pipila 799
Arigato – Panama – Good little Japanese restaurant. A small place, off the beaten path.
Arnoldis Chocolate – Not a restaurant, but a small chocolate shop in the Mega complex. Good chocolates, but not enough exposure, and their hours were not predictable.
Avanzaré at the Holiday Inn
Bavaria – Lazaro Cardenas 454
Beachcomber Restaurant – Aquiles Serdan
Benedetti’s Pizza – Lucerna 105
Benitto’s – Juarez
Beto’s Burger – Collage Street, L18A
Bianco – Insurgentes
Bobo’s Bar – Another place that was apparently successful, but the owner enjoyed too much of the good life, and the temptations that go with it.
Bombo’s – Corona 327
Bonsai Sushi – Basilio Badillo 331
Bruno’s #3 Steakhouse – Olas Altas 465
Café El Centro – Fco Madero 426
Cafe Frankfurt – Basilio Badillo 300 – A good German restaurant, but it didn’t have the exposure needed to make it a success. The owner opened another place a block away (Hacienda Aleman).
Café Magana – Lazaro Cardenas 40, Bucerias
Café Mediterraneo
Café Ole – Basilio Badillo
California Restaurant – Paseo Diaz Ordaz 720 & Plaza Villas Vallarta
Captain Morgan’s – Marina
Carisma Cafe – Basilio Badillo 283
Caruso’s – Where Bianco took over
Casa Fregoso – Av. México 1119
Chabelita – Marina del Rey, L-4
Chavas – Lazaro Cardenas 328
CheeseBurger in Paradise – Paseo Diaz Ordaz 740
Chef Roger – Basilio Badillo 180
Citrus (1) – Plaza Genovesa
Cookies – Paradise Village Mall
Cueva de Tania – Plaza Villas Vallarta
Cuiza (on the Isla Cuale, where Grace (?) is now)
Da Antonio’s – at the InterContinental Hotel
Da Franco’s – Centro Comercial Costa Alegre
Delicioso – Hidalgo 536
Desperado Yacht Club
El Candil – Quinta Real Hotel, Marina
El Circo – Marina del Rey L-3
El Guamuchilito – Aquiles Serdan 438
El Jaguar – (where Los Alcatraces II and Saffron were, at 220 Pulpito)
El Jardin – Juarez 336
El Palmar at the Westin
El Patio (Benjamin) – Francisco Madero
El Patio Fundo – Francia
El Santuario – Calle Independencia, near cathedral
Etc. – 336 Olas Altas – Moved to Nuevo Vallarta.
Fish & Taco Vallarta – Ave. Mexico
Flaming Sombrero - 31 de diciembre - great concept, no so great location
Fondue -
Full-O-bull – Fca. Rodriquez 136
Fusion Gourmet
Garibaldi’s – Westin Regina
Gato Gordo Deli - I. L. Vallarta, another excellent little spot that bit the dust due to landlord greed
Gatos & Gatos – I. L. Vallarta
Graffity – Miramar 271
Guido´s – Paradise Village Mall – Moved to a different location in Nuevo Vallarta, where the rent wasn’t as high.
Hidden Garden Restaurant – Hotel Molino de Agua
Ibiza – 315 Pino Suarez
Il Padrino – 143 Rodolfo Gomez
Istanbul – Lazaro Cardenas
Jardin & Grill – Blvd. Fco. M. Ascencio Km 2.5
Jerusalem Gold – Nice idea, but the prices scared away too many clients, and the owner wouldn’t take advice from people with experience here.
Joe’s Pizza –
La Admirante – Marina
La Bamba – Basilio Badillo 212
La Bodega de Nina – Pulpito 220
La Cave – Encino 245 – This place existed (barely) for many years. The food varied from great to «return to the kitchen», depending on who was running the kitchen.
La Cueva de Tatiana –
La Flor de Agave – Plaza Genovesa
La Marinera – Marina
La Nube (belonged to Luigi and Thierry Blouet) Great Italian food, décor and view!
La Parrilla – Marina del Rey 9B
La Paz Fonda Mexicana – Marina del Rey 1A
La Perla – at the Camino Real (Dreams today)
La Sirena Gorda – Olas Altas
La Taberna – Marina
La Valentina – F–18, Plaza Las Glorias
Las Brisas – Aquiles Serdan 438
Lazzard
Le Fauburg – Pilitas 174
Lone Star Country Kitchen – Marina del Rey 17, Marina Vallarta – A young man with a great education from one of the best culinary schools in the US, opened this place with the aid of his father’s money. Unfortunately, he enjoyed the party life more that the culinary life and had to choose between partying and working. Last heard from, he was working on an off-shore oil rig where temptations do not exist.
Los Alcatraces II – where El Jaguar and Saffron were)
Los Milagros – Juarez & Pipila
Los Pibes – Royal Pacific L-10
Maria Bonita (at the then Camino Real)
Maria’s of Chicago – Ignacio L. Vallarta 230
Mary – Lucerna 142
Mediteranio Café/Deli
Mezzaluna
Mi Casa Buffet
Momma Mia – Marina del Rey L-A, and then at the corner of Pino Suarez and Basilio Badillo. Willie & Lobo used to perform there.
Oasis - Owner arrested for being in cahoots with Alyn Waage
Once Upon A Time - At the foot of the southbound bridge, next to Santander bank. The best homemade ice cream around, bar none. Made on the spot for all to see. The owner couldn’t cope with the high rent any longer, and besides, they were about to raze the park to build the Benito Juarez garage.
O’Vento – Olas Altas 391
Palacio Oriental – Lazaro Cardenas
Pancho Pizza – Amapas 325
Papa Gordo’s – Francia 135 – Two men with many, many years experience in the pizza business, started a pizza restaurant. Things went well, and their business was growing. Something went wrong, the partnership dissolved, and the business closed.
Papaya 3 – Olas Altas 469
Pastel du Village - Lazaro Cardenas - reopened as Café Paris
Pata Salada (where Quimixto is now)
Pizza Joe’s – Basilio Badillo – A good Italian restaurant, but the owners found they were making more money selling sculptures and art. They converted the restaurant to an art gallery, where they remain in business to this day (Galeria Dante).
Planet Hollywood – Morelos 518 - Big todo when Arnold Schwartzenegger and Bruce Willis and Demi Moore were here for the opening.
Popeye’s – Terminal Marina – The chain in the US (Popeye’s Fried Chicken) paid the owner to change the name so that they could bring the chain to PV without a name conflict. When the husband of the owner lost his job as a GM of a hotel, the restaurant was sold, and the husband and wife left PV.
Porphyria – Olas Altas 443 (2nd floor)
Port Hole Las Palmas II, Local 1, Marina Vallarta
Prego! – Plaza Villas Vallarta
Pueblo Real – Juarez 614 – This story is really tragic. The owner fell in love with a woman who was vacationing from the US. After a long distance courtship, she returned to PV, where they were married. She invested in the restaurant, to expand it and increase it’s capacity. Things were going well for a couple of years, and when she was on vacation in the US, visiting family, she was fatally injured in an auto accident. The restaurant has been closed ever since.
Ranchero – Olas Altas 474
Really Rosie’s - 31 de diciembre
Red Onion – Olas Altas & Francisco I. Madero
Remembranzas – Pulpito 242 –
Rendez-vous –
Restaurant El Farallon – Lazaro Cardenas & Olas Altas
Restaurante Marusso – Lisboa 119
Restaurante Peking – 1st Floor, Plaza Neptuno – The only Chinese restaurant in PV with a chef (and staff) from Shanghi, China. They moved to the Olas Altas area, next to Archie’s Wok.
Richard’s – Aquiles Serdan 194
Rincon de Buenos Aires – Olas Altas 507
Rincon Vallarta Campestre – Pino Suarez 111
Ristorante Romano – Basilio Badillo 419 – This was a fairly good Italian restaurant, but it was avoided by many locals.
Rito’s Baci – J. O. Dominguez 181
Rose Rosse – Marina del Rey L-4 – A fine dining restaurant in the marina that struggled to survive. The owner got an offer from his former employer, Starbucks, and returned to that company to be the director of Mexican operations.
Rubens Hamburers – Olas Altas
Saffron – where Alcatrazes II was
Sangria - Basilio Badillo
Sankay Sushi – Plaza Marina – This little restaurant tried to survive for many years, and finally moved to Paradise Village Mall, where it is now.
Senor Chico’s – Pulpito 377
Soñadores - the owner’s mom fell ill and the entire family returned to the United States.
Sushi Roll – J. O. Dominguez 156
Tapas – Basilio Badillo 300 – A small successful place, until the owners moved to a bigger location. They changed the name and the atmosphere of the restaurant. The new place didn’t last very long.
Te Quiero – Isla Rio Cuale 3
Texas Grill (on the Isla Cuale, where Grace (?) is now)
The Blue Elephant – Basilio Badillo
The Club – Basilio Badillo 286
The Palm – Olas Altas 508
The Reporter – I. L. Vallarta – This restaurant was opened by a Canadian man & wife, along with a business partner. The Canadian man was the son of a Master Chef, and had been in the food service business since he was 12. The food was very good, the prices were reasonable, and the man spent a lot of time and effort in promoting his restaurant. Things went sour quickly when the man discovered that his business partner and his wife were having an affair.
The Sand Bar – Los Muertos beach
The Sand Bar (2) – Olas Altas & Francisca Rodriguez, 2nd floor – This place was purchased by a man who «Always wanted to retire to Puerto Vallarta and own a restaurant». He was a retired bond trader. Things were going fairly well until low season arrived. After a couple of months, he tried to sell the business. He couldn’t pay the rent and eventually lost it all.
The Sets of the Night of the Iguana – Km 11.5 Hwy to Mismaloya
Timari – Leona Vicario 754
Tokoloko – Olas Altas 440
Tropigala – Paseo Díaz Ordaz 920
TutiFruti – Morelos 552
Vallarta Grill – Blvd. Fco. M. Ascencio
Zsuba – Royal Pacific L-10, Marina – An upscale prime rib and sushi restaurant. Prices too high for the type of clients in the area. It’s now a real estate office.
This is a scary list for anyone who is thinking of getting into the restaurant business in PV... And we’re sure that those of you who have lived here for a while can think of more establishments which we have missed...
Gone, but Not Forgotten
I have often thought that an annual listing such as the one that follows could be a very interesting publication, listing the businesses that have left the PV scene for one reason or another, over the last decade or so...
180 – Basilio Badillo 180
4 Nutrition – Blvd. Fco. M. Ascencio
5th Avenida – Marina del Rey L–4A
Abadia Basso – Hidalgo 224
Adobe Café – Basilio Badillo 252
Akira (where Quimixto is now)
Amsterdam
Archi’s Burger – Pipila 799
Arigato – Panama – Good little Japanese restaurant. A small place, off the beaten path.
Arnoldis Chocolate – Not a restaurant, but a small chocolate shop in the Mega complex. Good chocolates, but not enough exposure, and their hours were not predictable.
Avanzaré at the Holiday Inn
Bavaria – Lazaro Cardenas 454
Beachcomber Restaurant – Aquiles Serdan
Benedetti’s Pizza – Lucerna 105
Benitto’s – Juarez
Beto’s Burger – Collage Street, L18A
Bianco – Insurgentes
Bobo’s Bar – Another place that was apparently successful, but the owner enjoyed too much of the good life, and the temptations that go with it.
Bombo’s – Corona 327
Bonsai Sushi – Basilio Badillo 331
Bruno’s #3 Steakhouse – Olas Altas 465
Café El Centro – Fco Madero 426
Cafe Frankfurt – Basilio Badillo 300 – A good German restaurant, but it didn’t have the exposure needed to make it a success. The owner opened another place a block away (Hacienda Aleman).
Café Magana – Lazaro Cardenas 40, Bucerias
Café Mediterraneo
Café Ole – Basilio Badillo
California Restaurant – Paseo Diaz Ordaz 720 & Plaza Villas Vallarta
Captain Morgan’s – Marina
Carisma Cafe – Basilio Badillo 283
Caruso’s – Where Bianco took over
Casa Fregoso – Av. México 1119
Chabelita – Marina del Rey, L-4
Chavas – Lazaro Cardenas 328
CheeseBurger in Paradise – Paseo Diaz Ordaz 740
Chef Roger – Basilio Badillo 180
Citrus (1) – Plaza Genovesa
Cookies – Paradise Village Mall
Cueva de Tania – Plaza Villas Vallarta
Cuiza (on the Isla Cuale, where Grace (?) is now)
Da Antonio’s – at the InterContinental Hotel
Da Franco’s – Centro Comercial Costa Alegre
Delicioso – Hidalgo 536
Desperado Yacht Club
El Candil – Quinta Real Hotel, Marina
El Circo – Marina del Rey L-3
El Guamuchilito – Aquiles Serdan 438
El Jaguar – (where Los Alcatraces II and Saffron were, at 220 Pulpito)
El Jardin – Juarez 336
El Palmar at the Westin
El Patio (Benjamin) – Francisco Madero
El Patio Fundo – Francia
El Santuario – Calle Independencia, near cathedral
Etc. – 336 Olas Altas – Moved to Nuevo Vallarta.
Fish & Taco Vallarta – Ave. Mexico
Flaming Sombrero - 31 de diciembre - great concept, no so great location
Fondue -
Full-O-bull – Fca. Rodriquez 136
Fusion Gourmet
Garibaldi’s – Westin Regina
Gato Gordo Deli - I. L. Vallarta, another excellent little spot that bit the dust due to landlord greed
Gatos & Gatos – I. L. Vallarta
Graffity – Miramar 271
Guido´s – Paradise Village Mall – Moved to a different location in Nuevo Vallarta, where the rent wasn’t as high.
Hidden Garden Restaurant – Hotel Molino de Agua
Ibiza – 315 Pino Suarez
Il Padrino – 143 Rodolfo Gomez
Istanbul – Lazaro Cardenas
Jardin & Grill – Blvd. Fco. M. Ascencio Km 2.5
Jerusalem Gold – Nice idea, but the prices scared away too many clients, and the owner wouldn’t take advice from people with experience here.
Joe’s Pizza –
La Admirante – Marina
La Bamba – Basilio Badillo 212
La Bodega de Nina – Pulpito 220
La Cave – Encino 245 – This place existed (barely) for many years. The food varied from great to «return to the kitchen», depending on who was running the kitchen.
La Cueva de Tatiana –
La Flor de Agave – Plaza Genovesa
La Marinera – Marina
La Nube (belonged to Luigi and Thierry Blouet) Great Italian food, décor and view!
La Parrilla – Marina del Rey 9B
La Paz Fonda Mexicana – Marina del Rey 1A
La Perla – at the Camino Real (Dreams today)
La Sirena Gorda – Olas Altas
La Taberna – Marina
La Valentina – F–18, Plaza Las Glorias
Las Brisas – Aquiles Serdan 438
Lazzard
Le Fauburg – Pilitas 174
Lone Star Country Kitchen – Marina del Rey 17, Marina Vallarta – A young man with a great education from one of the best culinary schools in the US, opened this place with the aid of his father’s money. Unfortunately, he enjoyed the party life more that the culinary life and had to choose between partying and working. Last heard from, he was working on an off-shore oil rig where temptations do not exist.
Los Alcatraces II – where El Jaguar and Saffron were)
Los Milagros – Juarez & Pipila
Los Pibes – Royal Pacific L-10
Maria Bonita (at the then Camino Real)
Maria’s of Chicago – Ignacio L. Vallarta 230
Mary – Lucerna 142
Mediteranio Café/Deli
Mezzaluna
Mi Casa Buffet
Momma Mia – Marina del Rey L-A, and then at the corner of Pino Suarez and Basilio Badillo. Willie & Lobo used to perform there.
Oasis - Owner arrested for being in cahoots with Alyn Waage
Once Upon A Time - At the foot of the southbound bridge, next to Santander bank. The best homemade ice cream around, bar none. Made on the spot for all to see. The owner couldn’t cope with the high rent any longer, and besides, they were about to raze the park to build the Benito Juarez garage.
O’Vento – Olas Altas 391
Palacio Oriental – Lazaro Cardenas
Pancho Pizza – Amapas 325
Papa Gordo’s – Francia 135 – Two men with many, many years experience in the pizza business, started a pizza restaurant. Things went well, and their business was growing. Something went wrong, the partnership dissolved, and the business closed.
Papaya 3 – Olas Altas 469
Pastel du Village - Lazaro Cardenas - reopened as Café Paris
Pata Salada (where Quimixto is now)
Pizza Joe’s – Basilio Badillo – A good Italian restaurant, but the owners found they were making more money selling sculptures and art. They converted the restaurant to an art gallery, where they remain in business to this day (Galeria Dante).
Planet Hollywood – Morelos 518 - Big todo when Arnold Schwartzenegger and Bruce Willis and Demi Moore were here for the opening.
Popeye’s – Terminal Marina – The chain in the US (Popeye’s Fried Chicken) paid the owner to change the name so that they could bring the chain to PV without a name conflict. When the husband of the owner lost his job as a GM of a hotel, the restaurant was sold, and the husband and wife left PV.
Porphyria – Olas Altas 443 (2nd floor)
Port Hole Las Palmas II, Local 1, Marina Vallarta
Prego! – Plaza Villas Vallarta
Pueblo Real – Juarez 614 – This story is really tragic. The owner fell in love with a woman who was vacationing from the US. After a long distance courtship, she returned to PV, where they were married. She invested in the restaurant, to expand it and increase it’s capacity. Things were going well for a couple of years, and when she was on vacation in the US, visiting family, she was fatally injured in an auto accident. The restaurant has been closed ever since.
Ranchero – Olas Altas 474
Really Rosie’s - 31 de diciembre
Red Onion – Olas Altas & Francisco I. Madero
Remembranzas – Pulpito 242 –
Rendez-vous –
Restaurant El Farallon – Lazaro Cardenas & Olas Altas
Restaurante Marusso – Lisboa 119
Restaurante Peking – 1st Floor, Plaza Neptuno – The only Chinese restaurant in PV with a chef (and staff) from Shanghi, China. They moved to the Olas Altas area, next to Archie’s Wok.
Richard’s – Aquiles Serdan 194
Rincon de Buenos Aires – Olas Altas 507
Rincon Vallarta Campestre – Pino Suarez 111
Ristorante Romano – Basilio Badillo 419 – This was a fairly good Italian restaurant, but it was avoided by many locals.
Rito’s Baci – J. O. Dominguez 181 I have often thought that an annual listing such as the one that follows could be a very interesting publication, listing the businesses that have left the PV scene for one reason or another, over the last decade or so...
180 – Basilio Badillo 180
4 Nutrition – Blvd. Fco. M. Ascencio
5th Avenida – Marina del Rey L–4A
Abadia Basso – Hidalgo 224
Adobe Café – Basilio Badillo 252
Akira (where Quimixto is now)
Amsterdam
Archi’s Burger – Pipila 799
Arigato – Panama – Good little Japanese restaurant. A small place, off the beaten path.
Arnoldis Chocolate – Not a restaurant, but a small chocolate shop in the Mega complex. Good chocolates, but not enough exposure, and their hours were not predictable.
Avanzaré at the Holiday Inn
Bavaria – Lazaro Cardenas 454
Beachcomber Restaurant – Aquiles Serdan
Benedetti’s Pizza – Lucerna 105
Benitto’s – Juarez
Beto’s Burger – Collage Street, L18A
Bianco – Insurgentes
Bobo’s Bar – Another place that was apparently successful, but the owner enjoyed too much of the good life, and the temptations that go with it.
Bombo’s – Corona 327
Bonsai Sushi – Basilio Badillo 331
Bruno’s #3 Steakhouse – Olas Altas 465
Café El Centro – Fco Madero 426
Cafe Frankfurt – Basilio Badillo 300 – A good German restaurant, but it didn’t have the exposure needed to make it a success. The owner opened another place a block away (Hacienda Aleman).
Café Magana – Lazaro Cardenas 40, Bucerias
Café Mediterraneo
Café Ole – Basilio Badillo
California Restaurant – Paseo Diaz Ordaz 720 & Plaza Villas Vallarta
Captain Morgan’s – Marina
Carisma Cafe – Basilio Badillo 283
Caruso’s – Where Bianco took over
Casa Fregoso – Av. México 1119
Chabelita – Marina del Rey, L-4
Chavas – Lazaro Cardenas 328
CheeseBurger in Paradise – Paseo Diaz Ordaz 740
Chef Roger – Basilio Badillo 180
Citrus (1) – Plaza Genovesa
Cookies – Paradise Village Mall
Cueva de Tania – Plaza Villas Vallarta
Cuiza (on the Isla Cuale, where Grace (?) is now)
Da Antonio’s – at the InterContinental Hotel
Da Franco’s – Centro Comercial Costa Alegre
Delicioso – Hidalgo 536
Desperado Yacht Club
El Candil – Quinta Real Hotel, Marina
El Circo – Marina del Rey L-3
El Guamuchilito – Aquiles Serdan 438
El Jaguar – (where Los Alcatraces II and Saffron were, at 220 Pulpito)
El Jardin – Juarez 336
El Palmar at the Westin
El Patio (Benjamin) – Francisco Madero
El Patio Fundo – Francia
El Santuario – Calle Independencia, near cathedral
Etc. – 336 Olas Altas – Moved to Nuevo Vallarta.
Fish & Taco Vallarta – Ave. Mexico
Flaming Sombrero - 31 de diciembre - great concept, no so great location
Fondue -
Full-O-bull – Fca. Rodriquez 136
Fusion Gourmet
Garibaldi’s – Westin Regina
Gato Gordo Deli - I. L. Vallarta, another excellent little spot that bit the dust due to landlord greed
Gatos & Gatos – I. L. Vallarta
Graffity – Miramar 271
Guido´s – Paradise Village Mall – Moved to a different location in Nuevo Vallarta, where the rent wasn’t as high.
Hidden Garden Restaurant – Hotel Molino de Agua
Ibiza – 315 Pino Suarez
Il Padrino – 143 Rodolfo Gomez
Istanbul – Lazaro Cardenas
Jardin & Grill – Blvd. Fco. M. Ascencio Km 2.5
Jerusalem Gold – Nice idea, but the prices scared away too many clients, and the owner wouldn’t take advice from people with experience here.
Joe’s Pizza –
La Admirante – Marina
La Bamba – Basilio Badillo 212
La Bodega de Nina – Pulpito 220
La Cave – Encino 245 – This place existed (barely) for many years. The food varied from great to «return to the kitchen», depending on who was running the kitchen.
La Cueva de Tatiana –
La Flor de Agave – Plaza Genovesa
La Marinera – Marina
La Nube (belonged to Luigi and Thierry Blouet) Great Italian food, décor and view!
La Parrilla – Marina del Rey 9B
La Paz Fonda Mexicana – Marina del Rey 1A
La Perla – at the Camino Real (Dreams today)
La Sirena Gorda – Olas Altas
La Taberna – Marina
La Valentina – F–18, Plaza Las Glorias
Las Brisas – Aquiles Serdan 438
Lazzard
Le Fauburg – Pilitas 174
Lone Star Country Kitchen – Marina del Rey 17, Marina Vallarta – A young man with a great education from one of the best culinary schools in the US, opened this place with the aid of his father’s money. Unfortunately, he enjoyed the party life more that the culinary life and had to choose between partying and working. Last heard from, he was working on an off-shore oil rig where temptations do not exist.
Los Alcatraces II – where El Jaguar and Saffron were)
Los Milagros – Juarez & Pipila
Los Pibes – Royal Pacific L-10
Maria Bonita (at the then Camino Real)
Maria’s of Chicago – Ignacio L. Vallarta 230
Mary – Lucerna 142
Mediteranio Café/Deli
Mezzaluna
Mi Casa Buffet
Momma Mia – Marina del Rey L-A, and then at the corner of Pino Suarez and Basilio Badillo. Willie & Lobo used to perform there.
Oasis - Owner arrested for being in cahoots with Alyn Waage
Once Upon A Time - At the foot of the southbound bridge, next to Santander bank. The best homemade ice cream around, bar none. Made on the spot for all to see. The owner couldn’t cope with the high rent any longer, and besides, they were about to raze the park to build the Benito Juarez garage.
O’Vento – Olas Altas 391
Palacio Oriental – Lazaro Cardenas
Pancho Pizza – Amapas 325
Papa Gordo’s – Francia 135 – Two men with many, many years experience in the pizza business, started a pizza restaurant. Things went well, and their business was growing. Something went wrong, the partnership dissolved, and the business closed.
Papaya 3 – Olas Altas 469
Pastel du Village - Lazaro Cardenas - reopened as Café Paris
Pata Salada (where Quimixto is now)
Pizza Joe’s – Basilio Badillo – A good Italian restaurant, but the owners found they were making more money selling sculptures and art. They converted the restaurant to an art gallery, where they remain in business to this day (Galeria Dante).
Planet Hollywood – Morelos 518 - Big todo when Arnold Schwartzenegger and Bruce Willis and Demi Moore were here for the opening.
Popeye’s – Terminal Marina – The chain in the US (Popeye’s Fried Chicken) paid the owner to change the name so that they could bring the chain to PV without a name conflict. When the husband of the owner lost his job as a GM of a hotel, the restaurant was sold, and the husband and wife left PV.
Porphyria – Olas Altas 443 (2nd floor)
Port Hole Las Palmas II, Local 1, Marina Vallarta
Prego! – Plaza Villas Vallarta
Pueblo Real – Juarez 614 – This story is really tragic. The owner fell in love with a woman who was vacationing from the US. After a long distance courtship, she returned to PV, where they were married. She invested in the restaurant, to expand it and increase it’s capacity. Things were going well for a couple of years, and when she was on vacation in the US, visiting family, she was fatally injured in an auto accident. The restaurant has been closed ever since.
Ranchero – Olas Altas 474
Really Rosie’s - 31 de diciembre
Red Onion – Olas Altas & Francisco I. Madero
Remembranzas – Pulpito 242 –
Rendez-vous –
Restaurant El Farallon – Lazaro Cardenas & Olas Altas
Restaurante Marusso – Lisboa 119
Restaurante Peking – 1st Floor, Plaza Neptuno – The only Chinese restaurant in PV with a chef (and staff) from Shanghi, China. They moved to the Olas Altas area, next to Archie’s Wok.
Richard’s – Aquiles Serdan 194
Rincon de Buenos Aires – Olas Altas 507
Rincon Vallarta Campestre – Pino Suarez 111
Ristorante Romano – Basilio Badillo 419 – This was a fairly good Italian restaurant, but it was avoided by many locals.
Rito’s Baci – J. O. Dominguez 181
Rose Rosse – Marina del Rey L-4 – A fine dining restaurant in the marina that struggled to survive. The owner got an offer from his former employer, Starbucks, and returned to that company to be the director of Mexican operations.
Rubens Hamburers – Olas Altas
Saffron – where Alcatrazes II was
Sangria - Basilio Badillo
Sankay Sushi – Plaza Marina – This little restaurant tried to survive for many years, and finally moved to Paradise Village Mall, where it is now.
Senor Chico’s – Pulpito 377
Soñadores - the owner’s mom fell ill and the entire family returned to the United States.
Sushi Roll – J. O. Dominguez 156
Tapas – Basilio Badillo 300 – A small successful place, until the owners moved to a bigger location. They changed the name and the atmosphere of the restaurant. The new place didn’t last very long.
Te Quiero – Isla Rio Cuale 3
Texas Grill (on the Isla Cuale, where Grace (?) is now)
The Blue Elephant – Basilio Badillo
The Club – Basilio Badillo 286
The Palm – Olas Altas 508
The Reporter – I. L. Vallarta – This restaurant was opened by a Canadian man & wife, along with a business partner. The Canadian man was the son of a Master Chef, and had been in the food service business since he was 12. The food was very good, the prices were reasonable, and the man spent a lot of time and effort in promoting his restaurant. Things went sour quickly when the man discovered that his business partner and his wife were having an affair.
The Sand Bar – Los Muertos beach
The Sand Bar (2) – Olas Altas & Francisca Rodriguez, 2nd floor – This place was purchased by a man who «Always wanted to retire to Puerto Vallarta and own a restaurant». He was a retired bond trader. Things were going fairly well until low season arrived. After a couple of months, he tried to sell the business. He couldn’t pay the rent and eventually lost it all.
The Sets of the Night of the Iguana – Km 11.5 Hwy to Mismaloya
Timari – Leona Vicario 754
Tokoloko – Olas Altas 440
Tropigala – Paseo Díaz Ordaz 920
TutiFruti – Morelos 552
Vallarta Grill – Blvd. Fco. M. Ascencio
Zsuba – Royal Pacific L-10, Marina – An upscale prime rib and sushi restaurant. Prices too high for the type of clients in the area. It’s now a real estate office.
This is a scary list for anyone who is thinking of getting into the restaurant business in PV... And we’re sure that those of you who have lived here for a while can think of more establishments which we have missed...