It’s exciting when a completely unique restaurant opens its doors. Such is the case with Captivating Camino Latin Fusion Restaurant which opened on March 19 in Villa Rica, about a mile south of I-20 (Exit 24).
Located in the former O’Charley’s off Highway 61 it seats 201 including the bar and curbside pickup areas. Some might think “Mexican” when they hear the word “Latin”, but this restaurant encompasses tastes from all of the Americas south of the United States. One of the owners, Juritzi, summed up the concept in two sentences by saying, “Our fusion concept is to embody and combine many flavors of Latin America to form a single dish, while also incorporating American style dishes. Our true goal is for every bite to tell a story.”
No other restaurant in West Georgia serves many of the dishes on the menu. The family wanted to be different, providing a one-of-a-kind experience for their patrons.
Juritzi explained, “For example, instead of serving a typical prime rib or short rib, ours is plated very differently. The seasonings and layout along with the sides perfectly complement each other, even though they are from completely different regions. The technique and execution is different. Our approach is to bring many different cultures together at one table, while creating new ideas based upon tradition and our upbringing.”
The menu, is on their website and social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram. Since they have opened, they have been adding new items and removing others, based on what customers have been ordering.
Several dishes have emerged as customer favorites. Huarche Azteca is a grilled skirt steak served on a corn tortilla flatbread filled with black refried beans, chili butter, grilled green onions, queso fresco, and chimichurri. Pollito Pio is a half roast chicken, with today’s vegetable, ginger, garlic, rice, and almonds. Birria Callejera Buns are braised short rib bao buns, beef stock, onion, cilantro and Oaxaca cheese. The Poached Muscles and Bang Bang Shrimp are especially popular as well. Portions are very big, and the food is always fresh. There is also a full bar.
The interior of the restaurant itself is quite elegant and the decor is as unique as the menu. Marble floors and custom table tops exude luxury and cleanliness. Juan (Juritzi’s father) stated, “We wanted marble because you can look at it and know that it is clean. That’s also why we went with the white walls. Cleanliness is very important to us.”
The imported chandeliers are made of hand blown glass, with the main chandelier needing the strength of four men to put into place. The light blue and cyan color scheme of the restaurant is relaxing and inviting. A hand painted sign on a brick section of the wall states ” En Villa Rica Se come Rico”, which translates to “In Villa Rica you Eat Well”. By reading the online reviews, they seem to be fulfilling that promise well.
Opening Captivating Camino Latin Fusion Restaurant is the culmination of many years of thought and preparation. Juritzi elaborated, “My husband and I always have been passionate about hospitality and after years of working in this industry along with the help and support of my father and our families, we finally decided to go out on our own and create a place that brings this community together to enjoy good food and great company.”
Captivating Camino is located at 921 Moores Ferry Road in Villa Rica, and can be seen from Highway 61 after you pass the Walmart shopping center. Take I-20 to Exit 24, then go south. Turn left at the third light onto South Carroll Road from Highway 61 and take the first left. You may reach them at 678.941.3093, or you may find them on social media @CaptivatingCamino.
The restaurant is open from 11am to 10pm seven days a week.
Tim Collins is the founder and publisher of Chapel Hill News & Views (2000), Villa Rica/Temple News & Views (2008) and Paulding News & Views 2019.He has been in advertising since 1983 and publishing since 1985.
