Puerto Vallarta

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Cafe des Artistes

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awbw
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4 out of 5
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Have a Drink, but Don't Stay to Eat

  • February 19, 2008
  • Rated 1 of 5 by beatriza from Seattle, Washington
Our last visit to Puerto Vallarta was in Oct 2007. We decided to have a nice meal at Cafe des Artistes having heard it would be a great culinary experience. Boy, were we wrong.

While waiting for our table we ordered a bottle of wine in the bar, and a brie to go with it. The brie was the most disgusting thing any of us had ever put in our mouths. It was like a concentrated punch of amonia. We were an international group of people, from Mexico and Europe and nobody had ever tasted brie like this. We asked for them to take it back, very politely, suggesting maybe this one piece had gone bad without them noticing. The hostess proceeded to lecture us on how this was a great restaurant, and the chef, and the awards... We were insulted. We all have dined around the world, and can clearly tell good from bad cheese. After much insisting we got them to exchange it for a different cheese plate (which was fully charged in the end).

I'm not sure if this was the Chef's night off, but our "filet mignon" was an unrecognizable and huge cut of meat (maybe from a rib area), that was chewey and quite well done, for having ordered medium rare. Just the fact that they were selling this cut as "filet mignon" in a four star restaurant is insulting. When we brought it up to the hostess, we got no apologies, of course. In any case, since both my husband and I had ordered the filet mignon, and the overcooked piece of meat we got was inedible, we wanted to exchange it for another dish. Since our appetite was clearly diminished, we thought we wouldn't risk asking for two entrees and just order one and share it. Well, they wouldn't take that. All they cared was about the $$$ total in the bill. So we were forced to order two entrees. Talk about great service. The substitute tuna was good, but nothing out of this world. We get better dishes for less in most 3 star restaurants in downtown Seattle. We were left with no desire for dessert.

So my advice is, go there, have a drink or two so you can experience the decor, which is indeed beautiful, but don't even think about staying to eat. You'll waste your money and leave with a very unpleasant experience.
Editor Pick

Cafe des Artistes

  • June 12, 2006
  • Rated 4 of 5 by KidGloves from Redmond, Washington
Ambiance - Class - Style - Haute Cuisine - Excellent Wine list - Flavor - Presentation

These are some of my impressions from our dinner here. The restaurant is fantastic with very classy interior and a staff that was very attentive and paid close attention to every detail.

We arrived early and took a seat in the bar area to have a glass of wine and a martini. There simply weren't any other places we were at where I thought I'd get a proper martini. I got a very proper martini here. The wine list by the glass has probably 25 wines on it of varying price/quality/origins, all available by the flight if you wanted to do some tasting.

Right on time one of the hostesses came and got us and seated us at our table. Now, the dining room is something to behold. At the far end was a large table (8-12 people, maybe) which has all these glass ball/bulbs hanging down around it. This gave that table a special ambiance...not to say the entire restaurant didn't have it but this one area stuck in my mind.

Now, this is sad. I can't remember much about my meal other than it was steak and it was fantastic. My wife had a sea scallop dish. Again, we were steeping in the moment and I didn't completely geek out and take notes (although I wish I had). Both of our dinners were exceptional, simply put. They also had a fine international wine list consisting of all major areas of production with a heavier leaning to French wines. Costs on the wine list went from $15 up to $how-much-money-do-you-have.

Do I recommend this dinner for everybody? No, not everybody. I think the cuisine here would be lost on most children less than mid-teens. Also, unless you're into actually tasting your food and using your palate, this may not be for you either. This last one may have you guffawing me, "of course I taste my food," you say. But ask yourself, do you taste it as it simply passes over your tongue or do you savor the bite and explore the texture, flavor, and depth?

As to be expected from a dining experience of this caliber, it didn't come cheap. Again with the American prices. In this particular case, though, I had no qualms ponying up the pesos. This is the upper crust of dining with remarkable food. Reservations highly recommended.

From journal Puerto Vallarta 2006

Café des Artistes

  • January 21, 2006
  • Rated 5 of 5 by dlsnyder from Tulsa, Oklahoma
The outdoor garden section, with its heavy foliage, creates the feel of an intimate, candlelit Garden of Eden. The chef/owner, Thierry Blouet, is from Puerto Vallarta but trained in the French culinary arts. You can see the pride in all his delicious dishes, from presentation to taste. We had a large group and not one person had anything negative to say. We were all delighted with the menu selections, wine menu, and wait staff. I would go back in a blink!

From journal Puerto Vallarta Revisited

Cafe Des Artistes

  • May 23, 2005
  • Rated 5 of 5 by garyrbeck from San Francisco, California
It is reputed by many as Vallarta's top spot, with five-diamond winner owner/chef Thierry Blouet presenting Mexican and French cuisine. It is world-renowned, formal, and very expensive, with attentive but unobtrusive service that may be worth it for you. There are many exquisite choices, such as salmon wasabi 190p, sea bass fine herbs 240p, grilled garlic tuna 195p, half-roasted ginger duck 265p, filet mignon with red-wine onion stew 265p, baked osso bucco with grilled lamb chop and mascarpone polenta and garlic 299p, pumpkin shrimp bisque 95p, tuna sashimi salad 115p, escargot and pumpkin ravioli 115p, artichoke and potato aioli terrine 110p, pumpkin prawn soup 95p, fine desserts (apple and pear-pecan strudel with caramel ice cream 81p, tropical baba au rhum 85p, and chocolate crème brulée 85p). They offer a three-course bistro menu 350p, with wine 385p, reported to be wonderful. Dine inside in a 50-year-old garden or newer area on hillside with a view. The new Cocina de Autor dining room, built in levels, is backed by a flowing waterfall with a ficus tree centerpiece [closed Sunday and September, with manager Polo] and has signature 3- to 5-course menus 590-750p. It is number one for many worldwide travelers. It is a city landmark with a world-famous reputation. It has a splendid list of 400 wines by the glass 65-90p and bottle 200-4500p and live music many times 8-11pm, as well as piano and flute music. At the entrance, there is a relaxed but elegant Costantini Bar Lounge with nightly entertainment. Reservations are advised/required. There is valet parking. It is a top choice on many lists.

It is such a deal, seriously. You get a choice of one appetizer from, one entrée from, and any dessert on the regular menu. It seemed like the bill, with a cup of coffee, would have set me back 380 pesos, without tip, and this was 149 pesos!!! Every single morsel from the six plates was a sheer delight. A table set for 10 in a semi-private room next to us sat empty, and I felt it would work just right for my next birthday, one to never forget by anyone in attendance. I do not think I have nine friends willing to part with that kind of money with drinks for me. Oh, Donald Trump, Oprah… ? The dripping, clear teardrop glass wall, the huge floral pieces, the sculpture, the prix-fixe menu, the private room with attention to detail, the attentive but unobtrusive service, the elegance, the soft music, the lighting… everything except the wafts of cigarette smoke from a close table, uncalled for in a special place as this is, was fabulous.

From journal Gary's May 2005 Sojourn

Cafe Des Artistes

  • March 17, 2005
  • Rated 5 of 5 by kcorner from Boston, Massachusetts
We ate in the private Thierry Blouet Dining Room for Valentine's Day. The staff was wonderful, the food delicious, the ambience darling. Excellent wine list. Perhaps the best dining in PV.

From journal Week in PV with Friends

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