Photo by Maggie Walsh | The Triangle
Address: 3151 Market St.
Items Ordered: Nachos, cornbread, chips and salsa, Baja fish tacos, Korean fried chicken tacos
Price Range: $20-30
Overall Score: ▲▲◭△△ Fine. Perfectly average.
Mi Casa, a new Tex-Mex restaurant, recently opened next to the Starbucks on campus, bringing a fresh dining option to the area. After its grand opening last week, the restaurant has already begun drawing students in with its free appetizer happy hour promotion.
Upon entering, Mi Casa immediately makes a good impression. The ambiance is particularly nice, with warm mood lighting and giant cacti that make the restaurant feel like an inviting place to spend time with friends. Despite its appealing atmosphere, the restaurant was relatively empty during the visit. Happy hour seating was also somewhat limited, with guests directed toward either a long communal table or the bar.
The happy hour menu, however, was a bit disappointing. The prices were not quite what might be expected from a happy hour promotion, especially compared to Rosy’s Taco Bar, an establishment that is not too far across the bridge and offers considerably better deals. For example, Mi Casa’s nachos were priced at $10, compared to Rosy’s $5 happy hour nachos. Still, there was enough on the menu to make trying a few dishes worthwhile.
The first dish was cornbread for $6, an interesting choice for a Tex-Mex restaurant. Served with chipotle lime butter, the cornbread was pleasantly spongy, and the butter added a nice flavor. However, actual pieces of corn mixed throughout the bread made for a somewhat unpleasant texture. The first bite was promising, but the dish became less enjoyable as it went on.
Next was the chips and salsa, priced at $3. The salsa was tangy and flavorful, and the chips themselves were solid. The portion, however, was almost comically small, leaving a bit to be desired. Complimentary chips and salsa are a free staple at many Tex-Mex restaurants, so the charge was disappointing.
Happy Hour tacos were $6 each, we ordered the Baja fish tacos and the Korean fried chicken tacos. Both had plenty of flavor, but unfortunately, they were also quite dry. Neither came with any sauce or dip, and there was nothing available at the table to add either. For a Mexican restaurant, the lack of something, not even a bottle of hot sauce, to complement the tacos was surprising.
Despite the food’s shortcomings, the service was a definite highlight. The waitstaff were exceptionally kind and attentive throughout the visit, making the experience more enjoyable. One other disappointment, however, was that the promised free appetizer never materialized, despite the flyer that had initially brought the guests in.
Overall, Mi Casa has plenty going for it. Its location is convenient, its atmosphere is inviting, and it feels like the kind of place that could easily become a casual hangout after classes. However, the pricing and food make it difficult to justify a full meal, particularly when other nearby restaurants offer better happy hour deals. Mi Casa might be better suited for a light bite or snack during the afternoon than a full dinner. The drinks also looked promising, and while none were sampled during the visit, they could be worth coming back for.
Dining and Cooking