Vallarta sits in downtown Exeter, and when I walked in, the place was empty. No customers the…read moreentire time I was there, but the room looked nice, Spanish paintings on the walls, music filling the quiet space. The waitress met me fast, dropped menus, chips, and salsa.
The chips and salsa were the best part of the entire visit. The salsa was full of flavor, full of aroma, with a spice that hits and fades just right, pulling you back in for another bite. I'd buy a tub of it without hesitation.
I saw a daily special, two enchiladas with rice and beans, and ordered that along with a strawberry wine margarita, mostly out of curiosity. When it arrived blended, I expected a sangria‑tequila hybrid. Instead, it tasted like nothing. Just cold, blended liquid with no real identity.
Before I could figure it out, the food hit the table, fast. Less than five minutes.
The rice and beans had no flavor. Salt helped, but only a little. The tiny salad on the plate didn't add anything for me. But the enchiladas were solid. I got them with ground beef, and the red sauce was flavorful, the beef seasoned well. Pico de gallo on top isn't my thing, but once everything blended together, I ate it up.
I tried the margarita again mid‑meal. This time I could taste a faint wine note, like a very light blended sangria. Not something I'd order again, but definitely an experience.
Honestly, Vallarta shines in two places:
the salsa and the enchiladas.
If they ever decide to serve proper sangrias in a few flavors, I'd come back just for that, and a basket of chips with that salsa.