Today we went to a nice beach restaurant where you can get the best zarandeado around.
Hello, again. My dad and I, and sometimes my mom comes along too, have been going out on the town to find some of the best not so popular cheap eats, mostly family-owned, restaurants that we can find. We go out almost every day, finding some new little place, or big place, to tell you about and review the food and prices.
I’m not that much of a beach person, as it’s very hot most the time and the sun is blaring. But, it can be fun to go to the beach every once in a while, even if you’re just sitting in the sand, and especially if you’re just sitting in the sand while enjoying a delicious meal. And to be honest, sometimes that can be good for you! So, as you probably guessed, that’s what I did today. Today me, my parents, a few of my friends, and a few of my dad’s friends went to Boca de Tomates, a lovely beach, and ate at Ramada El Pirrus, a really good seafood restaurant! It’s located, like I said, on Boca de Tomates, and the longitude latitude location of the place is 20.671239454596083, -105.27520664955989. We’ve actually been here many times before, and actually it’s one of my dad’s favorites, even though they aren’t the cheapest ever. We even came here with a few friends we met from a cruise ship sometime in September, Jerilyn, Lisa, Lesley, and Rick, and I wrote an article about our super fun yet interesting experience. You can read about it here, if you’re interested.
El Pirrus is a seafood restaurant, and they serve all types of seafood dishes, a few types of burgers, and drinks including a full bar. They have so many different meals they can prepare for you; there is something for everyone here, even if you don’t like seafood! One of my friends who came with me hates seafood, despises it even, and even though she was too stubborn to taste the food the rest of us ordered, she got herself a quesadilla, and was pleased by that. Of course they also have side dishes like rice, beans, guacamole, and others, so those are more options. Either way, I’m sure there’s something there for the picky one of the group. As for drinks, they have alcoholic, non-alcoholic, pitchers, glasses, coconuts, you name it and they have it, or can make it. By the way, they're coconuts are super fresh, sweet, and cold.
Our group was pretty big, so we didn’t get individual meals, and instead we got two large 2-kilo zarandeado style fishes. At this restaurant you can go and pick out for yourself the fish you want them to cook for you. The fish they use is Huachinango, or Northern Red Snapper, and it’s realllllly good. I’ve probably said it before, but I’m not huge on fish, excluding sushi, yet I can’t find anything to complain about with the fish at El Pirrus. I love how it’s fried and has a such a crispy and flavorful skin. It reminds me of chicken from Pollo Pechugon, because normally skin is discarded on chicken, but when you get a chicken from there it’s the best part!! The meat itself is really sweet, and enhanced with a fruity marinade, soaking up the flavors from the marinade and the spices that they put on the fish.
(this picture is only one fish)
My mom really enjoys the fish, and says that people from all over Puerto Vallarta come here, as it’s the best zarandeado around. My dad agrees with her, and really really likes it. Zarandeado is a 500-some year old method of cooking fish, that actually originated in the Nayarit area, where the fish is butterflied completely open, and then cooked over coals, or carbon. The fish here at El Pirrus has a fruit-base sauce put on it, so it’s sweet, but my dad says you can also taste the carbon, as most things cooked with carbon have a certain taste.
El Pirrus is a very big place, and though it’s normally kind of empty of weekdays, during the weekend you have to show up early or you may just not find a seat, so I recommend going there on a weekday. Though, everyone likes going to the beach on a weekend, so if you do, just make sure to get there early. When we were there people started coming around 2:00, and it quickly filled up. Most people claim a table and hang out for the whole day eating and drinking. Musicians, Mariachis, and vendors pass by offering their goods and services, and the kids have a great time playing in the sand or jumping on the trampoline. My mom got to do a little rock hunting, and actually found a couple really cool pieces! And all the while you get a marvelous view of towering hotels and homes around the bay to Los Arcos, and the mountains far off in the distance.
El Pirrus' Phone Numbers: 322 103 4287 & 322 181 7056
Article about zarandeado style cooking
If you enjoyed this article, and would like to recommend a place that you know about, then please let me know. Or, if you are an owner yourself of a place that you would like to see written about, contact me.
And to see the rest of my food reviews go to the Dining Out section here in Vallarta Bay Times.