Pancho Villas on South Stratford Road is the most recent opening of three Pancho Villas' locations already in the Triad area. Aesthetically, the restaurant is slightly more upscale than the other Mexican restaurants you'll generally find in Winston-Salem. The restaurant used to be I Bambini Italian restaurant; hence the walls are covered in a mural which used to be a Venice-like Italian canal town. However, with the new ownership certain features of the painting have been airbrushed over and sombrero-wearing figures were added, transforming it into a Mexican town. The booths are cozy, and there is a nice bar area, serving your favorite spirits.

The service at Pancho Villas is outstanding. When I went to Pancho Villas for the first time, I brought a massive appetite. The server quickly brought chips and salsa to the table, as well as water and our drink orders. I ordered sweet tea, which was pristine and served with a lemon slice. If you’re looking for something a little spicier than the usual salsa, ask for some salsa picante. The waiter will bring you a tray with three dishes of salsa, freshly-made and guaranteed to scorch your taste buds. Be sure to try these salsas out, as they are free!

Going along with the server’s suggestion, I requested the Especial de la Cocina ($9.99), a massive entree including chicken, steak and shrimp grilled with bell peppers, onions and mushrooms, then topped with cheese dip and served on a bed of rice. This dish was outstanding and huge—the chicken and shrimp al dente and the veggies crisp.

Another excellent dish at Pancho Villas is the Arroz con Pollo, disguised as A.C.P. on the menu. You can either order the dinner portion ($7.95), or if you go before 3:00 p.m., you can order the lighter lunch portion ($5.50). If you're a fajita person, Pancho Villas has a special for you! For about $4 extra, you can make each fajita dish for two people that’s ideal for sharing.

A few nights a week, Pancho Villas has a mariachi band perform at the restaurant. The band walks from table to table and is happy to play a song for you. Their music is very loud, particularly the trumpets, and they expect a tip after playing for you—this said, our table spent a lot of the evening avoiding eye contact with them as they stalked from table to table. Nevertheless, the mariachis were skilled musicians and after having a few drinks at the bar, you might start to tap your foot, slap your knee or even harmonize a little bit.