EAST COUNTY EATER - ARRIBA!  SAVOR OLD TOWN'S BEST MEXICAN RESTAURANT--IN LA MESA

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CASA DE PICO
5500 Grossmont Center Drive
La Mesa, CA 91941
(619)463-3267

November 1, 2008 (La Mesa) - The longtime standard for the finest in Mexican food and ambiente is now in East County’s Grossmont Center. 

San Diegans have always considered Casa De Pico the perfect example of Mexican dining.  Whenever my relatives showed up from Minnesota and wanted to eat “real good” Mexican food – I would take them to (where else) Casa De Pico in Old Town.  Darn tootin!

Ever since an ownership transfer of Bazaar del Mundo compelled Diane Powers to move her fabulous restaurant, La Mesa has been blessed. 

Old Town’s loss is East County’s gain.

Casa De Pico brought the best of nostalgic Old Town to Grossmont Center including outdoor patios with flowering bougainvilleas, a friendly cantina, and a spacious indoor dining area decorated with vivid wall murals and folk art.  

The smell of fresh masa greets you while you watch fresh tortillas being hand made the old-fashioned way. 

My latest visit reminded me that Casa de Pico has elevated food to an art form.  Guacamole arrived festooned with olives, tomato, cheese curls and a crown of lettuce – all arranged to resemble una papagayo (a parrot)--the perfect complement to a margarita!  (These are real margaritas, mis amigos, so don’t order the grande unless you have a few friends to share.)

Next came a cheese crisp special, a house specialty for more than 30 years: a crispy flour tortilla topped with refried beans, shredded chicken, beef or puerco, melted cheese, a generous dollop of sour cream, plus a pinwheel of avocado and tomato slices.

For something exciting and different, I sampled the Ensalada Fiesta Tropical, an artfully arrayed salad with oranges, sliced grapes, black olives, miniature sweet peppers and red chipotle tortilla strips served with sweet yet spicy mango chipotle dressing in a conch-style tortilla shell.  Magnifico!

Along with Casa De Pico’s rebirth came changes. Casa de Pico in Old Town always had a long line to be seated.  Not so in La Mesa, where you don’t have to compete with tourists. That said, the restaurant was doing such a brisk business that allowing patrons to linger over dessert and Mexican coffee was not a luxury to be afforded at first.

Now if you want to linger after dinner, you’ll be delighted to learn that the restaurant has added several postres (desserts) like deep-fried ice cream or sopapillas (puffed pastries topped with cinnamon and honey) to linger over while you sip your café con leche

They even have a new healthy dining menu selection featuring such innovative items as stir-fry Mexican food.

Can’t get enough of Casa de Pico’s fare?  No problem.  They now offer take-out food and for your next office get together - fiesta catering. 

El ultimo is the addition of almuerzos (breakfast) for early risers who crave huevos rancheros to start the day. 

The rebirth of Casa De Pico in La Mesa brought all of the great things it was known for when it was in Old Town and made them even better.  For festive fun with fabulous food, what more can an aficionado of Mexican cuisine desire?


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Comments

Yay Casa de Pico!

Casa de Pico has been my favorite restaurant for many years. I'm so glad they've come to La Mesa. Much easier parking, for one thing. I can't believe how well they have re-created the Old Town atmosphere. It's like stepping into another world.

Thank you, Casa de Pico!