Pancho Villa's

Everything I know about Pancho Villa is what little I learned from that one episode of the Young Indiana Jones Chronicles. I know he was some kind of Mexican revolutionary, and that he kidnapped Indiana Jones who eventually joined his band of rebels and went along on some raids. It was a good episode, but not all that informative about the actual historical person, much like the episodes where Indiana Jones met T.E. Lawrence, Pablo Picasso, and Teddy Roosevelt. That kid got around.

Anyway, here's all you need to know about Pancho Villa's, a Mexican restaurant on Minneapolis's Eat Street: It's awesome.

As Mexican restaurants go, they have a ridiculously large menu, most of which has gone ignored by me. Whenever I go I see groups of Hispanic people with delicious looking, authentic Mexican entrees that are probably exceptional, but I always stick with what I know: a combo platter that comes with tacos, enchiladas, rice, and beans. Every now and again I'll feel adventurous and get a different combo platter -- perhaps one with a flauta or a tostada -- but it always has to have a taco, because Pancho Villa's has some of the best I've ever had. The tacos come either with your choice of meat, onions, and cilantro, or Durraza style, which has meat, tomatos, lettuce, and cheese. The tortillas are fantasticly flavorful, with a wonderful texture that is the perfect balance between being too soft and too rubbery.

Or you could be more exciting and order something that looks like this:

Every table gets free chips and salsa, which is becoming something of a rarity these days, so it's nice to see a place that still does it right. And whenever you finish off a bowl of chips, the waitress magically appears to ask if you need a refill. The salsa is fresh tasting and very spicy, at least by Minnesota standards, and while it isn't absolutely amazing, it is good enough. I like it.

The service is always fast and friendly, with an abundance of servers who seem willing and happy to help as needed. This isn't one of those places where you'll wait forever for your drinks until you realize there's only one waitress for the entire section. This place always seems to have a dozen or so waitresses working at any given time. Why is that so hard to accomplish? Why is that so rare? And when I came once with a friend who was shocked to see that she was charged for a side of sour cream (even though it was listed on the menu), they apologized and agreed to take it off the bill. That's class.

Best of all: Two for one tap beers and margaritas all day. That's not a happy hour, that's a happy day.

Actually, best of all is the tres leches cake. You won't be able to eat dessert after finishing a meal at Pancho Villa's, but order a slice to go. Trust me, it's incredible. I wouldn't normally recommend getting desert at a Mexican restaurant, but this is one of my favorites.

Bottom line: Pancho Villa's is probably my favorite Mexican restaurant in the Twin Cities, considering the quality of its food and service, the price, and the fact that there is free parking. Just go there already.

5 out of 5