Located at 3738 High Point Road in Greensboro, Villa Del Mar
offers Mexican cuisine for lunch and dinner. Though there is an emphasis on
seafood, beef, chicken, pork, goat, and vegetarian items are also available.
The restaurant offers 99 cent tacos on Tuesdays and Thursdays as well as other
specials.
Villa Del Mar is a place I have driven past daily en route
to work for years but never thought to stop in. Curiosity recently got the
better of me (on a day off, ironically), and while it wasn’t what I expected, I’m
glad I gave it a try.
The restaurant’s small lot and bar-like ambiance (there’s a
loud and somewhat annoying door chime) may inspire some degree of trepidation,
but looking over the menu will lift your spirits. The selection here is
tremendous. You can get the expected fare (i.e. enchiladas and fajitas), but
with an oyster bar, slow-roasted bbq goat, and ceviche are among your options,
you should really reconsider. The pricing is also wallet-friendly: you’ll pay a
meager $3 to $5 for lunch specials, and even the pricier seafood entrees tend
to run under $15 (lobster tail notwithstanding).
Execution was uneven but not to the point of discouragement.
Because I was pleasantly surprised to find it on the menu, I went with a
seafood paella for my first visit. It ended up being a far cry from its
Valencian standard-bearer and included one meager clam. However, the bits of
octopus were a nice touch, and the shrimp were cooked well. My companion’s
order of carnitas was tender and tasty and none too dry but could have benefitted
from some verde sauce (which was included with several other pork dishes).
Service was attentive, but order-to-table time could be quicker.
Villa Del Mar does not offer the best Mexican in town, but
it does distinguish itself from a throng of competitors via its menu and
pricing. For those reasons alone, I won’t hesitate to come back.
7.75/10
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