Rebecca M.
Yelp
What a gem! As visitors, we were pleasantly surprised to find this quaint little town downtown family-owned Mexican restaurant in a small southern college town and were drawn in by the orgasmic aroma wafting from the restaurant's door as a customer exited onto the main restaurant street in Davidson, NC.
To call it Mexican food seems too vague and vanilla and, unfortunately for many Americans, conjures up images of typical "Tex-Mex" nachos, tacos, and burritos. There's such diversity within the different regional cuisines of Mexico and the disparate directions each has taken as it crossed the border and mingled with American palates. The unique plates at Mestizos seem to blur borders and push boundaries with new and provocative spins on coastal favorites and upscale remakes of delicious Mexico City classics with contemporary flair and fresh ingredients.
We were lucky enough to walk in and get a table (but the indoor seating area is limited, so I would suggest reservations if you go on a busy night). There is some outdoor seating which would've been nice if the weather were a bit warmer. Inside, the atmosphere is intimate and cozy, with warm vibrant wall colors and modern hanging thread lights. Service was friendly and my water glass never got below half full. Bar service kept the drinks coming and cleared empties quietly and efficiently.
Because of the lovely aroma that drew us in, My taste buds set the bar high for a flavorful dinner and thankfully Mestizos did not disappoint. Our table ordered several appetizers and entrees and enjoyed every one. It was a cold night, so we started with a warm, creamy cup of queso and some crunchy, house made tortilla chips. One of the shrimp dishes we enjoyed was Camarones Al Chipotle. The shrimp were huge, the sauce delicious and smoky, and the vegetables were well seasoned. Another was Camarones Con calla de hacha (shrimp and scallops). Both were served over saffron rice. The Carne Asada with smoky, creamy ancho Chile scalloped potatoes and black beans with a side of chimichuri sauce was par excellence.
Wine list was dominated by wines from Spain, Chile, and Argentina--pairing exceptionally well with the menu offerings.
Overall, our experience couldn't have been better. I can't wait to return to Davidson next year and look forward to revisiting Mestizo for an encore!
**just a note, I read some of the other reviews and noticed some comments that this restaurant is overpriced. Maybe they were college students on a budget? We live in the DMV area and found the prices to be most affordable. We felt our meal was a great value for what we actually received--huge shrimp, scallops, and premium ingredients! Of course one could eat for less expense, but I don't think it would be easy to find this quality of ingredients and creative combinations.