Funny how this place gets such crazy good reviews. I ended up here for a business type dinner and I couldn't really wait to leave.
First, good luck with parking. Those fellas waving you in are not parking attendants or officials of any sort. Well, maybe the guy actually in the parking lot Villa Ortegas...I mean there were some words and perhaps a logo on his polo shirt...but the rest of them on the way to the parking lot are just trying to wrestle in some business. Oh well, that is part of the Mexico experience. Buy some gum or oranges or trinkets and complete the experience of pushy peddlers and parking guys.
Next, I thought South Padre Island smelled pretty bad. The scent around this part of the Pacific Ocean rivals that of South Padre Island. It is like a combination of decaying seaweed, dirty diapers and anal gravy. Not the best scent. Perhaps that is also the Mexico experience because it seems to follow you everywhere in that country.
Food and drinks...ok, I guess. Guacamole is average at best. My sister can't boil water well but her guacamole tastes pretty much like this stuff. Not bad, just average. Chips...average. Salsa...average. Starter tortilla soup with our meal was very greasy and that red grease coated the bowl (see some of the posted photos). Kinda left a film in your mouth, too. I am not sure if there was any meat in it and if there was it was trimmings and cooked down so much it was basically mush. The worst part was it was so bland! I had to add salt, lime, chilis and salsa. Maybe those condiments are on every Mexican table for a reason? The lobster, oh the lobster! It was overcooked and rubbery and guess what? It was bland. So were the beans and the rice...bland. They have salt in Mexico because I see it on margaritas and beers, but I suppose the drinks take precedence. The tortillas were huge, thin, flour sleeping bags. These things are seriously big and they tasted fresh and delicious. I enjoyed those tortillas. The drinks were fine and no complaints.
Service...well, I know the place was not busy and I know its a big place and has lots of floor space to cover, but out waiter was pretty slow with beers and lemonade and such. The food comes out fast...like fast food fast...the drinks not so much.
The decor is old, worn, faded, dirty and perhaps part of the Mexico experience. Some employee followed me into the bathroom and turned on the water for me as i went to wash my hands after making room for more beer. Then he handed me enough paper towels to dry a light truck. Then shook his tip jar in an ever so demanding way. I ignored that service and the need to tip for using a restroom.
If you want to say you went there, go ahead and enjoy the experience. It wasn't horrible, but I will not go back unless I had to, not by choice. The view is nice, the food is bland, the drinks are slow, the smell is not good and the place is on the dirty side. Mexico Experience. read more