Bite This: Los Afortunados

After a day of swimming, surfing, sunning and napping, you may feel that you have missed something. Oh, yes. Food!

One of the best solutions to that issue is Los Afortunados, one block off the square on Manuel Navarrete 14.  The restaurant has so much going for it, that it really is a pleasure to recount the highlights.

The restaurant is in a romantic setting, dining under the stars, comfortable chairs, space between tables, and deliciously quiet. You can actually talk to your companion without a megaphone. To me, this is important.

The owner, Greg Pearce, is much more than a seasoned host. He glides from table to table, giving tips from the kitchen and making guests happy without being the least bit obtrusive. Friendly, and then some. The service is up to Greg's high standard.

Oh, yes, a word about the food. Super!  One dish worth noting is the tequila shrimp. The shrimp are sauced with tequila, lemon juice and an assortment of Italian herbs--tart and tangy. There is love in the kitchen.

My wife enjoyed the tropical pork tenderloin. A tangy marinade infuses a king sized piece of meat and grilled just right, with nice char marks over the tender inside.

I asked Greg (owner) if he had any comments:  "We have maintained our commitment to quality and using only the finest ingredients. Our new cook staff of Manuel, Hector and Herculano were trained by Charo, our longtime friend, and lead person in the kitchen. Charo, although busy with her own new restaurant on Mariscal, agreed to return to help train the the "new" guys in our kitchen. Her longtime commitment to Los Afortunados and lasting friendship has been helpful in opening this year with all the confidence and attention to detail that our regular customers have come to expect."

Often one starts with grilled chorizo, and diners have a choice of various side dishes.  We have enjoyed just about every dish from the creative menu. You will find a lot to like.

Ed Schwartz is our local Sayulita restaurant reviewer.  He and his wife Bambi split their time between Sayulita, Mexico and Inverness, California.  You can reach Ed directly at ejsprwine@gmail.com