When we first got there no one was there and there was one server. We got seated and had no silverware or napkins. The waiter gave us the chips and salsa which were good. Our server didn't ask us what we wanted to drink so we never got a drink only water. The shrimp tacos were bland and not the greatest, the quesadilla especial was good, and the cantina burrito was also pretty good. The decor was nice you it's spacious and has outdoor seating. Overall the service was not great; no silverware, no drinks only water, and only one server. The food though was great. read more

I had high hopes for this spot, unfortunately it quickly turned into an utter disappointment from bad to worse. While exploring the nearby businesses of the hotel we were staying at, we decided to stop for an early dinner. The place looked quiet, and even though there were very few patrons, we had a short wait before being seated. (This was the first red flag) The restaurant is structured nicely with an open facing entryway to the street, allowing the sun and breeze to flow. The problem, is that it was difficult to admire the interior of the restaurant without ignoring the noticeable spiderwebs and cobwebs in the ceiling and rafters. If I can see them, then I know they can see them. They do however, have very nice indoor and outdoor patio seating, with several tv's throughout. We were served complimentary chips and salsa shortly after we were seated. The chips were light and crispy. The salsa? Awful. Very thin and runny, with absolutely no flavor. We had to have waited a good ten minutes or so before our drink order was taken. Upon taking our drink order, I also placed an order for chips & guacamole. Our waitress was friendly, but curt. After tasting the salsa I chose to play it safe and went with the chile verde enchiladas, and my wife went with the combo plate with a chicken taco and enchilada. By the time we placed our second drink order it was blatantly obvious that our waitress had completely forgotten about our order of chips and guacamole, which was confirmed when our meal arrived. I will say that the margaritas were outstanding, maybe one of the best I've had. To my surprise, the chile verde enchiladas were actually really good. Nice texture, good flavor. The rice was bland and flavorless, and I'm convinced that the black beans were straight from a can. Lacking both flavor and/or seasoning (They weren't even hot) and equally plain. My wife's meal wasn't any better. The chicken was super dry served on a sad and raw tortilla. The beans...disgusting slop. If I had any doubts about whether MY beans were canned, I had absolutely no doubt about hers. These beans were so undoubtedly canned I'm surprised they didn't still have the impression of the tin can on them. No seasoning, no flavor, and lukewarm at best. Enough is enough. I couldn't wait to pay my tab and make a swift exit. read more

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What happened to this place The tostado grande was awful! Bland with no flavor for 15 dollars I'd rather eat taco bell. Just shut down now if your not going to put any effort in . read more

Came in for a simple Michelada and it was the worst one I've ever had. The bartender was rude and she seemed inconvenienced, this was after they were out of three other beers on tap I had asked for originally. I hoped the free chips and salsa would help me take this monstrosity of a drink down but even the salsa tasted watered down. Sad, because I had just come from one of the best restaurants in town down the street Skip this place and keep walking, you'll regret it. Ambiance is meh. read more

Very disappointing. We went on a Sunday around noon and that was a bad idea. We ordered the enchilada plate and the chile relleno plate. The green sauce on the enchiladas was ok but the I side pork was dry, hard, and flavorless. It tasted like days-old pork that was reheated. I took two bites and left the rest. The rice didn't have much flavor. The chile relleno also tasted reheated and didn't have the crisp we were looking for. The sauce on the chile tasted canned. The beans were the highlight of the meal. Great authentic flavor. We have no plans to be back. If you try this place, go during dinner. Perhaps the food might be fresh during a rush. read more

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Bad Day In The Kitchen? My wife and I returned to Villa Cantina for lunch on a Wednesday with another couple from our neighborhood in Nipomo. Service was fine, but our food fell short.....waaaaay short. Service from a young woman who took care of all the customers was very good. She was friendly and did her best to keep an eye on things. My main dish was the Veggie Bowl with Ahi Tuna ($18). There were many pieces of Ahi which was fine, but they were smothered in salt. I took off what I could from several strips, but left several on my plate because they were not edible. I probably should have said something, but didn't want to wait around for them to redo the dish. My wife had Shrimp Tacos ($17) and finished them, but afterward said they had no taste at all. One friend also had Shrimp Tacos and her husband had something with lots of beef. They didn't comment one their food one way or the other. A bad day in the kitchen? Who knows. read more

Good food at a reasonable price, large servings, friendly staff. Plan to take home at least half of the Jefe Burrito! The Chile Verde dishes are all good - spicy but not too spicy. Tons of chicken with the fajitas. read more

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It has just gone down hill so fast !!! Terrible service is number 1, and then the flavors are just terrible! The bartender needs to understand that she can leave the bar area and help with tables especially when nobody is even drinking! read more

The food is really good here and the staff and everybody at the restaurant are awesome. The thing I would strongly urge you not to do is ever order delivery. They have a partnership with GrubHub and every time I've ordered through GrubHub they have totally failed in fact the connection between yelp and GrubHub is broken so you, Dan read more

Villa Cantina - Here's an example, my food sat outside for 20 minutes because GrubHub never told me that it was delivered so it was cold and nasty - Burgers Near Me - Arroyo Grande, California

OMG! Love this place! I had a beef chimichanga and about died and went to heaven! The refried beans and cilantro lime rice was unreal too! Tortilla chips with Guac was unreal!!! Huge portions! Excellent service, friendly staff and love the vibe! We will be back! Thank you for a wonderful evening! ;) read more

So we go here for breakfast pretty much every Saturday and Jolene who normally works is fabulous. Today however, was another waitress smh We walk in and sit down at our normal table, nothing. No water, chips,drink order,.....crickets. Place was pretty much empty. 15 minutes go by, still nothing smh Other people come in and get served straight away and no im not going to shout her over. Other people come in and are served straight away and even their orders taken. Another 10 or so minutes go by, nothing, so of course we walk out and try a new place. To be honest Beech Street restaurant was awesome, great food served quickly with friendly staff. We wont be going back to the Cantina, ever ! read more

Villa Cantina is consistently good. Very relaxed comfortable atmosphere, great service and delicious food. I always order a margarita and shrimp enchiladas and they are both perfect! I highly recommend! read more

Tast is there. Got the Taco Love with soft shells and asada, a single tortilla doesn't hold up to what they put inside so eating it is aggravating lol double the tortillas! read more

Went on a Monday night in hopes to watch MNF at the bar, grab a few drinks and some good dinner. As soon as I sat at the bar the bartender gives me some fresh hot chips and salsa. Off to a good start. There was no happy hour which sucked. I ordered the Jefe burrito with carne asada topped with verde sauce. Well the chips and salsa were great the burrito not so much. I actually had to ask the waitress if she put me order in correctly became I have never had "carne asada" that tastes like this. I'm pretty sure the "carne asada" is the same meat they use for the shredded beef they just cube it instead of shredded it. The service was great. The ambiance was quiet since it was me and maybe 3 other tables. read more

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Last minute meal after a show at local high school. One of a few places still open till 9 pm in the area. Our first time at this restaurant. Food was pretty just not piping hot or hot, just kinda warm. We got there close to closing time but they still welcomed us in. The waitress was super nice and attentive. The Jefe wet burrito was tasty probably would've been better if temperature was nice and hot. The Asada fries were tasty too. I'd recommend them not real negative issues. I get it, it was close to closing. Nice bar area, I'd love to come back and give them a try / chance to have a great meal experience. Great complimentry chips, salsa was good just not spicy at all, like we prefer. read more

Villa Cantina - El Jefe wet burrito - Burgers Near Me - Arroyo Grande, California

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We absolutely love this place for breakfast on Saturday and Sunday morning. It opens at eight. It stays quiet for several hours. You have plenty of an opportunity to chat with your Friends without dealing with music or other disturbances. Prices are better than most other places in the area. read more

Quiet early dinner with the fam! A few other people dinning as well. We were treated right away and we were told we could sit anywhere we like. The inside is not super big but it's good enough for say a small group of friends. They have TVs on to watch sports or whatever is going on at that time. Restrooms were clean when I visited. Our waitress was really great at checking in with us. We split the nachos! It's a lot for just two of us. The other people ordered other stuff. Those nachos are delicious! The nachos come with your choice of meat or not, black beans and refried beans, cheese, tomato, black olives, jalapeño slices, sour cream, guacamole, green onion. The beef and the beans are seasoned so perfectly the combination of flavors had us coming back for more. It a dry chip on the whole plate! It's piled high and delicious so definitely give this one a try over drinks maybe with a few friends. But order more guacamole because it's not a shareable amount. read more

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It was the last day of our trip, and we stopped in Pismo for lunch. Very good, clean, delicious. Awesome service, and a military discount. It's not something that is given at many places up the coast. We will be back. read more

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Villa Cantina in Arroyo Grande Village has really delicious food!!! I ordered the chile relleno and cheese enchilada combination plate and it was extremely tasty! We also ordered the shredded beef tacos and the chicken tacos and my family said those were very good also! Our waitress was extremely nice and accommodating. I highly recommend Villa Cantina for some delicious Mexican meals! read more

This is my 1st time at Villa Cantina. The food was pretty meh. I got the tostada bowl w/ carne asada. The meat was very bland and really not much more than cubed roast beef. The person I was with got a quesadilla and also wasn't impressed. I also ordered a burrito to enjoy the next day but I didn't enjoy it. Same cubed "carne asada," and very dry rice. It's not like the food was really bad, it just didn't have a yum factor. It's a great location and the server was friendly but I doubt I'll be back because there are too many better and more authentic options for Mexican food in the area. read more

Food and service were excellent. Ambiance was enjoyable with a very convenient location. We'll be back soon! read more

Good food. A bit pricey. They have you order online for pick up and charge a Fee $3-4 just to order and the default tip is set @ 20%. Just to me that adds up when I am just ordering via a computer and not a person and there are these Fees and tips.....I know they are trying to make it but needs to be sensible regarding these charges. read more

The food was yummy, the service was excellent and the restaurant was clean. My margarita I had tasted strange; tasted like it was lemon juice with tequila; it was also garnished with lemon and not lime. I thought paying for chips and salsa instead of being included like most Mexican food restaurants was a bit strange. read more

Villa Cantina - House Margarita - Burgers Near Me - Arroyo Grande, California

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We were happy to see they served breakfast and accommodated allergies. Cute place and large bar with seasonal cocktails. The salsa is terrific and there are large serving sizes. The flavors and textures could use a little help. Service was kind but could know the menu better. read more

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I love there Chicken Tortilla Soup! My husband tried the Chicken Fajitas, he loved it; Loads of chicken. Great service too! read more

Huge portions! Staff was super friendly and attentive, and food was good and came out pretty quick. We came later in the evening so it had cooled off but the patio would be a great spot during warmer temps! read more

Villa Cantina - Carne Asada Bowl - Burgers Near Me - Arroyo Grande, California

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Food: 5/5 This was my first time coming back since COVID and decided to give them a try because I had heard great things from them. You do have to pay for chips and salsa, but they are worth it. Their enchiladas have lots of flavor and the presentation was very well done. It is a good mix between traditional and modern Mexican food. Service: 4.5/5 All the staff here have been very nice and fast. The food always comes out hot and fresh. Decor: 4.5/5 A couple TVs which usually have sports playing on them and very nice decor that perfectly matches the food and the rest of the restaurant. Menu: 4/5 The menu is slightly on the high side for prices, but the food is excellent. They have lots of classic Mexican dishes that they add their own touch to. Overall: 18/20, Highly Recommended! :) read more

Villa Cantina - Red Chicken Enchiladas (amazing!) - Burgers Near Me - Arroyo Grande, California

My honey bunny saw this place and wanted to give it a try. When walking in it reminded me more of a sports bar and not a Mexican restaurant. Big tvs on the wall with different sports games on. We ordered their taco love (6 tacos) with rice and beans. We were a little thrown back when we had to pay extra for the chips and salsa. Chips were $3.00 and it was a nice size. If you like spicy salsa make sure you ask for it. The first salsa we got was tomato and some spice in a blender. We got 2 of chili Verde, 2 Carnitas, 2 Carne Asada tacos. The presentation was good the tacos were ok no wow factor no flavor. But the lime cilantro rice was amazing and we both really liked the refried beans. All in all the food was ok they don't need to be afraid of spices. The service was good. Our server greeted us with a smile and took care of our every need. read more

Very nice people! But the food was mediocre. Every plate came out lukewarm. I ordered chili relleno. It was seasoned well. But the chili was not cooked sufficiently. It was like eating it out of the garden. There was too much cheese. They need to cut back. The egg coating was tasty but it was so thin. More like a tortilla than a fluffy egg mixture. Would I go there again? It wouldn't be my first choice. read more

Villa Cantina - Chili relleno. - Burgers Near Me - Arroyo Grande, California

Breakfast on Saturday and Sunday. The food was very good and reasonably priced. Will go back, definitely.

I definitely don't recommend the street tacos. Came in to have a beer and a taco with my wife. We each ordered one taco because we needed something kind of quick, we let the waitress know and asked her for recommendation for something quick. She recommended the tacos so we each ordered one. She ended up bringing us out six tacos. Three were on each plate. I was just looking to grab one simple cheap Street taco. The meat felt like it was dehydrated and very dry. I definitely don't recommend the Carne Asada. It did not feel fresh, it was very dry and did not taste like fresh grilled Carne Asada meat. It felt like it was from the day before, and just reheated. I'm sorry to leave a bad review, but we came in for just two beers and two tacos. I'm sure the other food is better, I would hope avoid the street tacos. Watch out if you order one taco, they will bring you three. The bill was around $50 I wouldn't be leaving this review if it was just one bad taco but we had six bad tacos. I definitely recommend the beer! read more

This was sadly the most underwhelming burrito of our lives! The first time we ordered, it was terrible, but said nothing. We gave it another go with similar results. I've never tasted food so bland and unfortunate in my life. Each time we ordered, it was not only wrong in terms of ingredients advertised but also quite sad in terms of flavor. They have a unique ability to ruin burritos (sorry to say). Bland is naturally a deal breaker, but when you order a "wet" al pastor burrito and then receive literally all bland rice, 4 or 5 pieces of bean and meat, it becomes quite embarrassing and wrong, in terms of price. I'm in awe regarding some of the glowing reviews. To each his/her own, but, wow. Please add flavor, please! read more

Villa Cantina - Burgers Near Me - Arroyo Grande, California

I come here for the Pomegranate margaritas. Very good the first time. Just ok the second time. Same for service. Very good on my first visit. Okay, the second time. Food is meh. Restaurant is clean, location is convenient, good place to people watch. read more

I need to give a shout out to the fabulous person who waited on my table today. Vicky was more than accommodating and went over and beyond her normal duties. I had lunch with a friend and brought my dog. She moved a heater over as close as she could because it was very windy and cool, even though the sun was out. (we were sitting in the shade on their outside patio) The heater didn't even have wheels on it.! And,, and because she saw that I was cold, she brought me a glass filled with hot water, to keep my hands warm. The service was exceptional and the food was good... I just had the chicken tortilla soup. She was amazing and they definitely should "clone " her! read more

Service was 4 stars. I would have given the food a 3 - until I found a 3" long wooden "toothpick" in my chile relleno. It looked like one of those picks you sometimes find when you order a thick sandwich - but this one was inside the relleno. If I hadn't stuck my fork right into it, I might have swallowed it and it was large enough to cause me to choke. Also, the chile they used was tough and very thick. I order rellenos all of the time and have never had such a bad experience. Also, refried beans were heavily salted. Either order something else or go to another restaurant. read more

What's the point of having online ordering when a) you don't check your computer system to see that there's an order and b) you don't have the food listed in the online ordering system? Your system auto-confirms the order to the customer but that doesn't do any good if the restaurant itself doesn't check the system to see that there's an order or update the online order form to show somethings not available. read more

We decided to check Villa Cantina out for dinner while we were in town. So glad we did. The only thing better than the food was the service. Jolene was awesome! The chips were fresh and delicious, the chile Colorado was perfectly spicy, and great beers on tap. read more

I'm sorry to say this restaurant has changed recently. The menu is new, prices are high and the food quality has declined. I know this past year has been horrific for restaurants so I hope this is only temporary but I had to report what I found. We usually get the Jeffe burrito but it was almost all rice this time :( read more

Decent Mexican spot for a variety of Mexican food. - Chile Relleno plate -- 4/5 not spicy at all (I do like it more spicy tho, but I'm Mexican :) - Flautas plate -- 2/5 beans were super salty and the flautas were made with flower tortillas, not corn - Fish & Chips -- 3/5 decent tilapia fish, but the texture was a bit rubbery Maybe I should have gone for the tacos and super nachos or super fries?? Mmm but their Yelp photos also showed pancakes...yet it wasn't on the menu read more

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My boyfriend and I have come here twice for drinks and both times the bartenders were so sweet. Last night they made us both strawberry mojitos and they were sooo delicious. She also gave us a basket of freshly made chips. They were so warm, nicely salted, and hit the spot. Highly recommend! read more