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Machis Bar.B.Q

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Andariega
Andariega
First Reviewer
4 out of 5
Avg. Member Rating
1
Review
10
Photos
Editor Pick

This restaurant has moved to El Tuito

  • June 15, 2009
  • Rated 4 of 5 by Andariega from Boca de Tomatlan, Mexico
This restaurant has moved to El Tuito

Machis Bar B Q is east of the street Insurgentes, in the less touristed section of Puerto Vallarta’s Romantic Zone. It is in a chalet-style (sort of) building, on the second floor. The stairwell is narrow and the only indicator that you are heading to a restaurant is a beer topped barrel way at the top. Once there the place is very inviting, with brick walls, dark wood beams, lots of tropical plants and fun décor. Inside, and on the wrap around balcony, are wooden tables and chairs. At the back is a small but busy bar. Inside fans keep things breezy.

The service is usually friendly but sometimes quite slow. Enrique, the chef/owner, is occasionally up front greeting and serving but usually is in back cooking up a storm. Most days the place is less than half full, largely with foreign regulars.

The menu isn’t long but is varied. There are a handful of sandwiches sold until five in the afternoon, a couple of appetizers, tortilla soup and a daily soup, a few salads, and less than twenty main courses, mostly steak and seafood with a couple of pork and chicken dishes. Prices are reasonable with dinners costing between seventy and a hundred and thirty pesos. At lunchtime a lot of people come here for the burgers which cost sixteen pesos and are pretty good. Despite the name, Machis Bar B Q does not specialize in barbecue. They do serve ribs, but in my opinion they are probably the least tasty thing on the menu.

I come here often, as does my mother and various friends. These are a few of our favorites.
The Appetizer – Usually, not always, a light snack will be brought to the table when you order dinner. Recently it has been mini-chimichangas stuffed with something unidentifiably wonderful and served with a sauce, always different and always delicious.
Fish and Chips – my mother’s favorite, almost everybody’s favorite. It is fat chunks of mahi-mahi in a crisp batter served with fries. I don’t know what Enrique does but these are the best in town. The battered shrimp and chips, although good, aren’t as special.
Pepito Sandwich – steak, tomato, onion, lettuce and avocado on a roll. It is simple but delicious.
Mahi-Mahi Veracruz – my favorite. It is a chunky piece of mahi-mahi cooked in a caper, olive and pepper laced tomato sauce. It is deliciously tangy and oh so satisfying.
Daniela’s Delight – mahi-mahi stuffed with crab and shrimp and wrapped in bacon. The flavors meld beautifully and the bacon gives it a smoky flavor.
Aztec Steak – a steak covered with a chipotle sauce and cheese, served with refried beans. The meat is almost always tender and the sauce is always deliciously flavorful and sort of spicy.
Cocotle Chicken – another of my favorites. It is a chicken breast in a red wine sauce with mushrooms, and bacon. Enrique has a way with sauces.
The Vegetables – most dinners come with wonderful butter-steamed chunks of vegetables. In a town where most vegetables (salsas aside) are an afterthought, or a decoration, Machi’s veggies are a delight. Always beautifully fresh and cooked perfectly.

I recommend Machis. The food is great, the surroundings pleasant, the prices reasonable, and the service never bad enough to mar the experience.

Sails said, "I eat here enough, obviously I like it. Great fish and chips, good food in general. The burgers are a great deal. The service is pretty friendly and Enrique, the owner and cook, sure knows his stuff."

sample menu
Shrimp Filled Avocado.......................65 pesos (US$6.20)
Caesar Salad....................................40 pesos (US$3.80)
Tortilla Soup.....................................38 pesos (US$3.60)
Hamburger.......................................16 pesos (US$1.50)
Rueben Sandwich.............................65 pesos (US$6.20)
Camila's Delight................................95 pesos (US$9.00)
mahi mahi covered with cheese, shrimp,
spinach and mushroom sauce
Machi's Shrimp.............................110 pesos (US$10.50)
stuffed with cheese, wrapped in bacon
and basted with BBQ sauce
served with rice, vegetables and mashed potatoes
Bar B Q Pork Ribs..........................100 pesos (US$9.50)
served with salad and shoe string fries
Chipotle Chicken...............................70 pesos (US$6.70)
served with rice and vegetables

Machis is open Monday thru Saturday from noon until 11:00 pm and Sunday from 2:00 pm until 11:00 pm. Credit cards are not accepted.

Directions
Machis is on the corner of Lazaro Cardenas and Jacarandas. From the northeast corner of parking/plaza Lazaro Cardenas (the ocean is to the west) head east on Lazaro Cardenas five blocks. The restaurant is on the right.

From journal Up With Romantic Dining

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