Pancho Villa: Great Carnitas - Not Fajitas

I really wanted to like Pancho Villa; Ithaca needs a good Mexican restaurant. The food can be very hit or miss; the Chips and Salsa was a miss; the chips were cold and didn't taste fresh; the salsa portion was small and its flavor not memorable. The Tamale a hit; the appetizer was truly yummy; great texture, not too delicate and not dry, with big tasty chunks of pork (comes in veggie and chix too.) One thing great, another thing not so great. That is the tone that continued throughout the meal, one up, one down. The Carnitas were a big up; the Steak fajitas, a big down. The Carnitas are easily the best in town, moist, flavorful with a generous portion of meat; not too spicy but a bit too much salt. The pork flakes off easily with your fork. With the Carnitas, be prepared for everyone at your table wanting to help you eat your meal. Why? Because their meal could be the anti-thesis of yours. Case in point - their Steak Fajitas: no one at our table wanted to eat it. The meat was cut too thick, was dry, so it was very hard to chew. Think fajitas come with peppers and onions? Not here: Lots of zucchini, some onions, and a few slices of peppers. When I suggested bringing the meat from the fajitas home for the dog, my wife said "Don't you like the dog anymore?" What else can I say? (The dog liked them? Yup, she did.) The beans are great - our two year old preferred the black over the pinto, as did we. Too bad they didn't serve more beans and rice with the meal.

Coming from California it astounds me that a Mexican joint could be tight with their beans; beans are one of the cheapest items they serve, so why scrimp? But Pancho Villa seems to be playing Ebeneezer with them. Thankfully the beans do taste good and a 2nd plate of beans and rice costs just $2.00. But I can't wait to tell my pals back in the Bay about the bean rationing in Ithaca.

Pancho Villa is located at the old Hai Hong, and the awkward formality of Hai Hong's has carried over to Pancho's; complete with real cloth tablecloths coupled with paper tablecloths adding up to a confused pseudo-stuffy air of dining. Whatever. The wait staff was eager and willing to please, but with only one wait person the night we went, it meant for some patient waiting. Did I mention I am not that patient? We felt for our waiter but also felt the owners should have had ONE MORE WAITER working that night as well. Garage-sale Tijuana-esque odds and ends make up the just add-water-for-instant ambiance flavor to the room.

Over-priced and low-on-value-for-your-buck.

Pancho Villa Mexican Restaurant and Bar is located at 602 West State Street, Ithaca, New York.