Los Mangos - El Coco

Estábamos listos para sentarnos y disfrutar el día allí. Pedimos cervezas y estábamos pensando en la comida. La cerveza estaba tibia y agria. El servicio fue malo. No volveremos.

Es la tercera vez que venimos aquí. Pargo rojo fresco atrapado cocido en una vara sobre carbón. 150 pesos con frijoles, arroz y tortillas. Cerveza fría, baño limpio, en la playa. Buen servicio. ¡Nos encanta!

Esta es uno de los restaurantes en la playa. Lo encontramos porque un amable hombre en una camisa amarilla nos saludó en la "calle principal" y preguntó si queríamos comer. Qué demonios pensamos, no parecía que nos iba a asaltar, y no teníamos un destino preconcebido. Resulta que nos llevó a Los Mangos. Por 130 pesos pedí un pargo a la parrilla cocinado sobre fuego y mi esposa pidió camarones al ajillo por alrededor de 160 pesos. Ambos estaban sabrosos y la ubicación no podía ser mejor. Probablemente el pescado llegó en el barco esa mañana. Los precios eran los mismos en todos los restaurantes y probablemente la comida también, pero hay que darles un bono a estos chicos por ser amables y encontrar a sus clientes. Comí las papas fritas y la salsa y no estoy muerto.

We stopped there today and we were going to eat there . We had one drink and that was it. What a dump. The service was terrible. It smelled like a sewer and looked like one too. The beer was beyond skunky and we never finished them. To top it all off, when we left the waiter chased us down and demanded another 30 pesos for a beer that we did not order. I argued with him for a while that he was wrong and he started throwing around the rich American you can afford it routine. My wife finally got scared and threw him a 20 peso note and we drove off. What a bunch of shysters. Do not go.

We were quite happy with Los Mangos. A classic beach restaurant in the Vallarta area, though in a small town 30 minutes to the south. There is not much in Boca de Tomatlan - a couple of streets and a jumping off point for tours and water taxis to various locations around Banderas Bay.We had a fresh whole grilled red snapper - the specific fish was headed to mom and subsequently place over the coals - watch out for those bones - and also I had an order of shrimp empanadas. A large portion with 4 empanadas. Our food was delivered hot and fresh. Prices were in the 140 - 150 peso range (S 16), which at the exchange rate was around 8 bucks US for each entree. A good location right on the water, at the mouth of the cove. In a cluster of beach restaurants, this one stands out. A minor drag is that the boats are very close - if motor fuel bothers you then be aware that a little motorboat is likely to power up every 5 or 10 minutes or so. The exhaust fumes can be an issue if your table is too close to the boats.I would visit here again.