We aren't from Newington but happened to be in the area (Thursday night, March 11, 2010) and looking for place for dinner. We saw Puerto Vallarta from the road and judging by its full parking lot, figured it was a good place to eat. We got chips and salsa to start while we looked over the very expansive menu. Chips were so-so (seriously, how can you realy mess up a fried tortilla?) but the salsa was pretty much ketchup with peppers and onions. Whatever... it's free and we were hungry. We ordered a coconut margarita and mango margarita. The coconut one was terrible - little flavor and unsweet. The mango one was fine... nothing to write home about but certainly not worthy of the price. Both were frozen and we weren't even presented with the option of salt on the rims.\r
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For dinner, we decided to try seafood. I ordered the Enchiladas de Jaiba and my friend ordered a seafood chimichanga. When mine arrived, a distinct odor of cat food came wafting from the plate. Yep, it smelled just like canned cat food! I love seafood and am not one to shy away from trying something different but this was bar none the nastiest meal I've ever eaten. I took maybe two bites of one of the enchiladas and decided just to eat the soupy refried beans and the pico de gallo salady stuff instead. My friend's chimichanga wasn't much better but as it had less of the shredded crab (which we presumed was lending the taste and smell of Little Friskies to the dish), it was only marginally more edible - as in five bites instead of two. When our waiter returned to ask how everything was, I told him it wasn't good and he just picked up the plate and left - no apology, nothing. \r
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The bill with tip was over $60 for the two of us for dinner and a drink. I'm really not sure what the draw of this place is to get the ratings it has. I love Mexican food but this was absolutely, indisputably THE WORST I have ever had and the service was just as bad. Could it be we had the WORST waiter in the place (his name was Guillerme, by the way, so avoid him) and the nastiest food on the menu? Guess so. But for us, that was such a disaster of an experience there will never be a second chance to find out.
Pros: Big menu
Cons: Food and service were awful!
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