LOMA 42 BAHIA — Restaurant in Nayarit

Although I’m Mexican, I’m gonna write this review in English for the non-Spanish speakers. So excuse the grammatical or spelling mistakes that you might find. My (American) husband and I have enjoyed dining at Loma 42 ever since it opened. To the point that we had our wedding rehearsal dinner at Loma two years ago. The food is great and it’s a nice gastronomic break to the thousand mariscos restaurants that you’ll find around the bay. Last night the hubby absolutely enjoyed the tasting menu. He had a hard time deciding what to order so he ended up tasting it all. I would highly recommend doing this, it was so much fun. He even added the wine and cocktail paring with it and discovered that Shiraz isn’t as bad as he thought! He’s a Cabernet kinda guy. We also discovered that the heirloom tomato salad is not only beautiful but delicious and the pork belly tacos are to die for! As a main dish he chose the picanha which was perfectly cooked and seasoned. The mezcal and agave honey cocktail was another win. Overall the tasting and paring menu was around $850 pesos (yes, Bob, in Mexico we use that symbol for pesos, it’s not dollars… chill). We don’t eat huge American sized servings so by the end he was full, but if you’re used to huge Chili’s kinda servings you might want to add a margarita pizza to your tasting menu order. If you order from the regular menu then servings are more than enough, we’ve had burgers and fish too and they all have been great. Service was great, or maybe it helped that the hostess spotted the baby bump hiding under my dress that they pampered us even more -well… me. *A cultural side note to the non-Mexicans reading this: in Mexico it is extremely rude to bring you your check unless you ask for it. So it’s not that waiters are avoiding you, they are giving you your space. “Sobremesa” is just as important as the meal in this...

New Years Eve 2022 - Prix Fixe menu

I booked this place a few months in advance so we’d have a seat for NYE, and because the reviews were good and the menu was interesting.

We were not disappointed!

We had no idea there would be a fixed five course dinner (with choice of entree), but it only made the decision-making easier!

Charlie started us with a holiday cocktail. It was sweet but not cloying, with a pleasant kick of bitters at the end.

We then had an amuse-bouche - a seafood mix on a slice of toasted almost-sourdough. It was amazing - some said “the best thing they’d ever tasted”! I wondered, if they start with this, how can it get better? It did.

Next was a spin on a caesar salad, with an oyster-based dressing. I normally do not like caesar salads - I loved this.

We then had an avocado soup poured over a deep-fried soft-shelled crab. The mosaic of flavours was new, mouth-watering and mind-blowing.

The choice of mains was lamb, beef with ravioli, or catch of the day. Of the six of us, I had lamb, two had fish, and three had beef. Again, this surpassed the last course - we were all overwhelmed with the flavour and presentation.

Dessert was a deconstructed black forest cake - again, not something I’d choose, but oh my how delicious!

Charlie had us finish the evening with a wonderfully presented set of macarons, and a sparkling wine.

The five courses were perfectly timed and sized.

I can’t rave enough about this - Charlie was the most accommodating host, very attentive and responsive, entertaining and fun. The ambiance is warm and funky. The food quality was above anything I’d had in Mexico before. The other patrons were all gently enjoying the moment with festive NYE adornments Loma 42 provided.

I just wish I had taken photos, but we were too absorbed...

My girlfriend and I have come here around five times and each time it’s impressive on every level. The general surprise of people to find such a well designed trendy restaurant that weaves in multiple different design elements is situated right next to a Carl’s Jr and a Gas station only helps amplify the following experience.

The service is attentive and personalized based on your desire for engagement. Each waiter is uniquely intimate with their changing menu and will give you their favorite recommendations which have proven to be delicious and it is my favorite way to order.

We both love ordering the tasting menu as well because it provides an experience that is usually very cost prohibitive in the US and Canada. The level of creativity in each plate is nothing short of impressive. These chefs have a marvelous ability of manipulating ingredients and creating combinations that both fluster and befuddle you in the best and most delicious of ways. Everything from the design of the plates to the plating of each course is designed beautifully.

Finally, the bar program is stupid fun. They use various different Mexican liquors in unique ways. My favorite by far is the Sutanita but everything I’ve tried is very good. Also, salts along the rim in Mexico is a constant and so far here is the only place I’ve liked them.

I love this restaurant and I will keep coming back to support them because I think they are emblematic of what every restaurant should strive to be. I’m coming back tonight and I cannot be more...