I had been swimming in salsa, guacamole, and Modelo, trying to find the best Mexican restaurants in all of Sarasota and Manatee counties . I visited the vaunted and the overlooked, the old and new, joyously dining on a variety of dishes boasting bold flavors and colorful presentations. With my deadline ahead of Cinco de Mayo rapidly approaching, I needed to compile a list of 10 places that I could confidently recommend for anyone craving a quality taco, burrito, or perhaps a margarita free of artificial mixes.
My long search finally led me to a new spot nestled among the luxurious houses, condos, golf courses, resorts, and pristine private beaches of Longboat Key. Located on the Manatee County side of the island, the restaurant occupied a spot in a strip mall, lacking the conspicuous signage that might better attract tourists traveling along Gulf of Mexico Drive, from downtown Sarasota to Anna Maria Island. Despite my familiarity with the area, just behind the Longboat Key landmark Harry's Continental Kitchens, I still struggled a bit to find La Villa Mexican Grill .
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La Villa Mexican Grill on Longboat Key announces it is permanently closing
La Villa is located at the back of a long, single-story white building with a turquoise roof, its minimal signage augmented by Corona banners during my visit last year. There were plenty of parking spaces available. Online videos depicted La Villa's Wednesday nights, with a crowded dining room entertained by a full mariachi band. When we arrived early on a Tuesday evening in April, I believe we were the only patrons.
No problem. The room brimmed with bright colors that offset the generic office roof access panels, and we were soon served complimentary house-made corn chips (think a bigger, less salty, and more flavorful Frito) with fresh salsa, which we upgraded with a serving of even more appealing guacamole. The "loaded" pork tamales are among the best tamales I've had anywhere, thanks in no small part to the restaurant's creamy jalapeño sauce, which also adorned the shredded chicken enchiladas I enthusiastically devoured.
From my home to La Villa, it's a 30-minute drive in the dead of summer, and easily twice that during tourist season. I never returned to La Villa. I eagerly included the family-owned operation in my best Mexican restaurants story and then moved on to the next opening or listicle topic. It's a decision that I regret, especially now that I have learned La Villa, which opened about two years ago , will soon be permanently closing.
"With deep sadness in our hearts we need to let everyone know we are closing our LBK location at the end of the month," reads the Facebook post from July 4 . "Starting Friday the 5th, we will have Tacos and Tequila Nights Thursday-Saturday. Thank you all for your best wishes, and thank you from our family to yours for always welcoming us into the community."
So, yes, there is still time to visit, or perhaps revisit, La Villa's Longboat Key location. Fortunately, Estella Villegas and her family also own another La Villa Mexican Grill. Their original restaurant has operated for over a decade in Valrico, a community located about 15 miles east of Tampa, which is far different from Longboat Key and apparently more appreciative of a humble Mexican joint that serves outstanding food.
Wade Tatangelo is Ticket Editor for the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, and Florida Regional Dining and Entertainment Editor for the USA TODAY Network. Follow him on Twitter , Facebook and Instagram . He can be reached by email at wade.tatangelo@heraldtribune.com. Support local journalism by subscribing .
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: One of the best Mexican restaurants in Sarasota, Bradenton permanently closing
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