Mexican Villa and other Mexican Places - Is It Possible To Find A Salsa WITHOUT Cilantro In Springfield, MO?

In the last decade or so, I've tried like a bazillion Mexican Restaurants in Springfield. And yeah, there really are like a bazillion Mexican Restaurants. Unfortunately, I can separate them into two groups, Mexican Villa or Not Mexican Villa.

Group 1: Mexican Villa

The main reason why Mexican Villa deserves to be in a group by itself is basically because it's different from every other Mexican restaurant in Springfield. Not necessarily better, just different. MV's food seems more influenced by Texas style Mexican food rather that regular Mexican food. MV would definitely be considered Tex-Mex.  

Mexican Villa is hugely popular in Springfield, MO. There's no way around it. And I have to admit, I like it too. In fact, when I moved away some ten years ago and then moved back like three years ago, MV, or more specifically MV's Sancho, was the only food I missed from Springfield, MO. I can't really vouch for anything else on MV's menu. I love the Sancho, I like the burrito, I like the cheese sauce, the guacamole is quite good, and I especially love the mixture of the three sauces (hot, mild, and sweet). The interesting thing about MV is how much all the locals love it, while many of the newcomers to Springfield are repelled by MV, including my family. I've exhausted about ten family members, trying to find someone who will go with me to MV, and after all this, only my Dad, who will eat just about anything, will go, and my Aunt will go just to appease me. Everyone else refuses. Luckily my girfriend is totally fine with MV. I gotta get my Sancho on!

Just to be clear, this article isn't exactly a ringing endorsement of Mexican Villa. MV definitely has its issues. Even though I love the Sanchos and three sauce mixture, there are times when even the Sancho isn't that great. I've probably had a couple hundred Sanchos in my life, and I'd say about 1 out of 50 is simply NOT good. As if it's old or something. Also, MV isn't known for the greatest service in the world. I'd say most servers are good, far too many are just plain awful, so you should tip accordingly. 

Group 2: Not Mexican Villa

I've tried just about every other Mexican Restaurant in Springfield, MO, and I have to tell ya, they're all basically the same, and all basically overpriced. I get so annoyed by this. Every single time someone convinces me to try another one of these Mexican Restaurants, I'm totally put off by how similar the food is and definitely how similar the salsa is. Especially the cilantro. Is it possible to find a salsa WITHOUT cilantro in Springfield, MO?

Is it possible to find a salsa WITHOUT cilantro in Springfield, MO?

I have to get this off my chest. I HATE CILANTRO. After going to yet another Mexican Restaurant in Springfield and finding yet again, the same old bland salsa, presented in the same old way (a chilled bottle with two empty bowls), with the same old cilantro mixed in. Ugh! I can't stand it. I spend most of the time picking out the minty little leaves. Who wants a minty flavor in their food? It's like eating toothpaste casserole. I've even started asking various people at these restaurants if this is how they make salsa in Mexico, and they usually say no. They say most Mexicans don't like the cilantro in the salsa. I'm thinking, then why do you subject us to the stuff? Why is it that EVERY Mexican restaurant in Springfield serves it like this? Except of course for Mexican Villa, which is entirely a horse of a different color.

Here is a list of all the Mexican Restaurants I've tried that serve their tired flavorless salsa the same exact way and marred with cilantro leaves: El Charro, El Sombrero, La Hacienda, Cielito Lindo, Los Portales (now closed), La Mision, Los Vaqueros, El Puente, Las Margaritas, Maria's, and El Maguey. I told you it was a bazillion.

Here is a list of all the Mexican Restaurants that show some decency by NOT denigrating their salsa with cilantro leaves. Mexican Villa (although MV doesn't really have salsa but more like hot sauce, and it's incredibly hot so be careful!) and Chili's (although Chili's isn't really a Mexican Restaurant, I'm mentioning them because basically, they have the BEST SALSA IN SPRINGFIELD, MO!). A considerably shorter list, huh?

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This is a collective review of Mexican Villa, taking into account about 200 visits in the past 15 years. I've also included a side review, if you just get the Sancho, the best thing on the menu.
Let's Do Again!

     

Las Margaritas - Las Margaritas Rolls Out The White Paper For You!

Las Margaritas Mexican Restaurant
2113 West Republic Road
Springfield, MO

Wow, I've felt about twenty thousand different ways walking into various restaurants in my life, but this one was completely unique. I had some reservations about trying Las Margaritas on the south side of Springfield, but ultimately acquiesced.

Wow, what a bizarre place! When you walk in, you're not quite sure what to think, whether it is upscale or not upscale. When you look in the menu, and see the prices, you start to think, well, maybe it is supposed to be upscale. After all, they have pretty nice tables, cloth napkins and nice decor. However, in a twist, once we sat at the table, I realized the table was covered in two long strips of white paper. Kinda like when I was a kid and my mom had to take me to a public restroom and she placed toilet paper on the toilet seats to minimize the spread of germs. The paper on the tables also felt a bit like we were puppies with newspaper spread out underneath us.

I was so perplexed by the this, I actually asked the waitress why they spread out the white paper on the tables. Our waitress was very pleasant, probably the best part of the experience. Anyway, sh said well, it had to do with a lot of guests having children and making messes and also it was great if they had crayons and they could color the paper. I was still perplexed. It seems to me when you have restaurant tables are just gonna get dirty. That's just part of it. If you don't like cleaning tables, maybe you shouldn't have a restaurant.

As far as the food, the salsa was some of the better salsa I've had in Springfield. However, the hot salsa they offered with the regular salsa was just plain ridiculously hot. Even when you mixed it with the regular salsa, it spoiled the flavor and just made the whole mixture hotness in lieu of flavor. I ordered a burrito enchilada style (8.99-one of the cheapest things on the menu), which came with refried beans and rice. The burrito itself was smaller than the price would warranted, in my opinion. My girlfriend ordered enchiladas, also with refried beans and rice. I have to hand it to Las Margaritas, because their mexican rice was possibly the best tasting mexican rice I've ever had. Unfortunately, everything else on my EXTREMELY hot plate wasn't so flavorful. In fact, it was strangely devoid of flavor.

So, the end result of Las Margaritas is, nah, it's not a do-again place. At least not for me. It was a Friday night and the place was pretty busy, so who knows, maybe they aren't all that desperate for business. Apparently somebody in Springfield likes this place. Not me so much. At these prices the food should have a bit more flavor, and the tables should probably be white paper free.

Good Food In Springfield, MO (It Could Happen)
Let's Not Do Again, Good Riddance