2009 Winners
The annual VirtualVallarta.com Readers’ Choice Awards 2009 ceremony took place last November 4 at Trio. The festive event brought together winning restaurant owners along with their management staff in a true spirit of camaraderie. The increasingly popular ceremony was created by Vallarta Lifestyles Publishing Group, who began an annual Readers’ Choice poll in 2002. This year’s event acknowledged the best restaurants in over thirty categories, which included Best Overall, Best Gourmet, and Best New Restaurant, among others.
The event was MC’d by Paco Ojeda from Vallarta Lifestyles Publishing Group. Ojeda emphasized that the event is possible thanks to the winning restaurants’ commitment to excellence, along with all Puerto Vallarta locals and tourists who visited www.virtualvallarta.com/readerschoice from December 2008 to mid June, 2009 to cast their votes. All results were tabulated electronically to ensure accuracy and transparency in the voting process. Aside from the winning restaurants, the 2009 Readers’ Choice Awards Ceremony was also attended by important Puerto Vallarta personalities, such as Alejandro Desentis, president of the local chapter of CANIRAC (Mexico’s premier restaurant association) and Antonia Lavender, Marketing Director for Puerto Vallarta’s Convention and Visitors Bureau (OCV).
In an unprecedented gesture of generosity, Trio’s owners, chefs Bernhard Güth and Ulf Henrikson decided to completely sponsor the entire event, welcoming everyone to their renowned gourmet restaurant. “It is us, restaurateurs, who truly know what it takes to maintain our venues competitive and successful. We are grateful to celebrate this evening with you,” commented Güth as he addressed all restaurant owners and their guests at the beginning of the ceremony.
The complete list of VirtualVallarta.com Readers’ Choice Awards 2009 winners follows:
This popular gay friendly, but not exclusively gay bar, is located close to the beach on the south side El Centro.
On the most popular beach in town, the kitchen of this casually elegant landmark perpetually reinvents itself.
Synonymous with quality ice cream around the world, Haagen Dazs is clearly a popular of choice in Puerto Vallarta.
Thierry Blouet, Maitre Cuisinier de France and a member of the Culinary Academy of France, has what is considered by many to be the best restaurant in Puerto Vallarta, Café des Artistes.
Los Chatos has been a local favorite for years offering delectable baked goods created by family recipes passed down for generations.
On the most popular beach in town, the kitchen of this casually elegant landmark perpetually reinvents itself.
For delicious vegetarian food only two blocks up from Vallarta’s main plaza, Planeta Vegetariano offers economically priced breakfast, lunch and dinner in a tranquil and cozy atmosphere.
Seafood lovers rejoice. Ocho Tostadas offers a great variety of dishes at very affordable prices and is popular by locals and visitors alike.
How do you recognize a great place to get delicious, authentic Mexican tacos? Simply follow the locals. Pepe’s Tacos, located just six blocks from the north end of the Malecon, is a taqueria with a menu consisting of various types of tacos and other authentic Mexican “street food”.
This popular chain featuring American Tex-Mex cuisine has found a new and popular home in Puerto Vallarta.
Known to locals as simply Ernesto’s this traditional style, open air eatery lives up to its name and consistently serves “good grub’ to its customers.
What started as a California hotdog cart in the 1940’s has evolved an international chain featuring delicious charbroiled burgers.
This avant-garde eatery by Thierry Blouet of Café des Artistes serves USDA Prime cuts and all the fixings in a contemporary ambiance.
The rich aromas that emanate from this authentic Italian kitchen confirm owner Domenico (Mimmo) Lorusso’s, passion for the freshest and finest ingredients and his talent to meld them elegantly in his rich slow-cooked sauces, homemade pasta al dente, home-baked bread and extra virgin olive oil to season delectable dishes.
The fact that this healthy favorite keeps cropping up in more and more Puerto Vallarta restaurants, it is at Tsunami that it’s best enjoyed.
Sip a Mai Tai Thai in a serene oriental garden as d’Rachael delights with harp, flute, and vocals while you await a feast of tropical flavors.
Among the Italian restaurants in town, La Dolce Vita stands out as a Vallartense favorite.
El Arrayan has become one of the hottest restaurants in town, winning “Best Mexican” by a landslide for the past three years.
El Torito Sports Bar and Grill has been regular pit stop for sports fans in Puerto Vallarta for decades.
The Sirloin Stockade is popular by both local residents and visitors who are seeking a diverse buffet for a very reasonable price.
Not only can The Deli cater to all your needs (pun inteded) from carefully prepared breakfast gift baskets to full-fledged dinner parties, this recently-opened venue fills the gap when it comes to gourmet-style deli takeout in the popular E. Zapata / Olas Altas neighborhood.
Paradise does exist. And this giant palapa that made Guinness World Records is in the midst of it. Providing stupendous views, it’s surprising that the food is so exquisite, too.
Haute cuisine and friendly service blend in this beautiful setting at Los Muertos Beach that offers the perfect balance of fine dining and exceptional service in a casually elegant atmosphere with the characteristic warmth and charm of Puerto Vallarta.
What stunning vistas of the town, bay and surrounding mountains this sleekly sophisticated mountainside venue is privy to, jutting terraces at different levels making you feel the views are yours alone.
From intimate dinner parties to gala special events for up to 600 guests, Eventful Moments is a full service business, eager to assist you with your catering needs.
With funky, kitschy decor and an upbeat atmosphere, Joe Jack’s features high quality, fresh, local food, prepared very well, at affordable prices.
Thierry Blouet´s restaurants in Puerto Vallarta are fabulous, the standard by which others are measured.
Haute cuisine and friendly service blend in this beautiful setting at Los Muertos Beach that offers the perfect balance of fine dining and exceptional service in a casually elegant atmosphere with the characteristic warmth and charm of Puerto Vallarta.
Since the early 80’s Freddy’s Tucan has been a popular breakfast stop in the heart of Emiliano Zapata, thanks to their great food at economical prices and the excellent service.
Finally, after a wait that their customers consider way too long, Sidney and Enrique's former Mezzaluna has re-opened as Mezzogiorno.
Thierry Blouet, Maitre Cuisinier de France and a member of the Culinary Academy of France, has what is considered by many to be the best restaurant in Puerto Vallarta, Café des Artistes.
With locations in both Marina Vallarta and the south side of El Centro, The Coffee Cup has become a very popular venue to buy a great cup of coffee.
If brunch is your idea of the ultimate meal, then the Sunday Champagne Brunch at the Sheraton Bunganvilas is not to be missed.
On the most popular beach in town, the kitchen of this casually elegant landmark perpetually reinvents itself.
Tucked away in the south side of El Centro, this restaurant is known for it’s generous portions, delicious food and reasonable prices.
Contemporary Mexican cuisine at breakfast, lunch and dinner in a colorful and super comfy open-air ambiance.
Thierry Blouet, Maitre Cuisinier de France and a member of the Culinary Academy of France, has what is considered by many to be the best restaurant in Puerto Vallarta, Café des Artistes.
Two European chefs, Bernhard Güth and Ulf Henriksson, have become the favorites of locals and food critics with their hearty honest food.
