PRICE:
Frommer's Very Highly Recommended

The owners of this elegantly casual oceanfront trattoria built a reputation with their Mezzaluna restaurant in Vallarta, then moved the business to their former home in Bucerías when the traffic became too much to deal with a commute. And diners on the north shore are so very grateful. It's the most attractive dining option north of Vallarta, in a sleekly restored home overlooking the bay. Choose to dine indoors or under the stars, beneath a canopy of trees on a oceanview deck or on the sand itself. But as stunning as the minimalist decor of the restaurant is, it takes second place to the savory dishes served. Salads are ample in size, and varied in combination of ingredients. My favorite combines grilled chicken with mixed greens, sun-dried tomatoes, goat cheese, and a currant-balsamic vinaigrette. For main dishes, pasta is the specialty, with best-sellers that include their calamari and saffron ravioli in a creamy sauce. Also delightful are the shrimp, clams, and fish served over black fettuccine, with black olives, capers, and a spicy tomato sauce. There is an ample wine list, full bar service, and attentive service.

Copyright: Excerpted from Frommer's Mexico 2009, (c) 2008, Wiley Publishing, Inc.

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