Vallarta Perdido Key

Paula E.

Joined 1 year ago

I've had my eye on this kitschy spot for a couple of years. It's right across the road from where you turn off to go to the State Park beach. Today, soon as I entered the park and parked my car, it started pouring and lightning. What a great excuse to finally try Vallarta. In my estimation there are 3 items that define a quality Mexican restaurant: 1. Margarita 2. Salsa 3. Refried beans. Vallarta scored an A+ on all 3 counts. At first there were more employees than customers, but that quickly changed. The inside is deceptively large, with 27 table inside, and about 12 outside. The restaurant was VERY clean, as were the restrooms. I loved everything from the fresh hot chips, to the old school decor. I had a lunch special. For 5.50 I got a beef taco, a chile relleno, guacamole salad and beans. The chile relleno was a little doughy for my preference, but it didn't stop me from eating the entire portion. It was cooked to perfection, and the cheese was 100 % quality. The taco was very authentic, topped with queso fresco instead of our Americanized version that's topped with shredded cheddar. There was also an abundance of lettuce and tomato on the plate, which I loved. The large top shelf margarita I had was $8, and worth every sip. I was almost disappointed to see the sun come out, which was my cue to get back to the beach. I have no idea what the people who rated this restaurant anything but superior are basing their reviews on. When you ask for queso, (which means cheese in Spanish), sure, they're going to bring you cheese. Would you rather the servers have speak Italian? The family that owns Vallarta is from Mexico City. Many Mexican restaurants are in actuality run and owned by natives of El Salvador, so I appreciate the ethnicity of the owners and staff. This restaurant also seemed very capable of seating large walk in parties. I will definitely be returning for more value, delicious food, charming service, and of course margaritas. In my opinion, everything was MUY BUENO!!!