The Housechick Blog

The other day, I ate lunch with my branch manager over at Las Cazuelitas, at 3535 East Ft Lowell Blvd, near Dodge.  I remember going to this building when it was an Italian place called Da Vinci’s, but that restaurant closed quite a while ago, and has been changed into Las Cazuelitas.

I went to a couple online Spanish to English translators: cazuela is either “casserole” or “crock,” so cazuelitas would be “little casseroles” or “little crocks.” 

They seem to have left a good portion of the decor from when it was an Italian restaurant - but tossed a couple serapes and sombreros on the wall to give it a somewhat different feel.  This is the desk at the front entrance of the restaurant.

From here, the building breaks up into several rooms of various sizes.  I like that there are many corners to sit and eat.  Some restaurants have a big open space and you’re kind of stuck out in the middle, but there’s a nice feel to the interior here, with the many rooms and a couple of fountains scattered about provide ambient noise.

We both had the daily special, which was two beef tamales with rice and beans, soup, and dessert.  Forgive me for not remembering the name of the soup, but it was a chicken stock with lots of pasta and scattered vegetables.  With all the pasta, it was a very filling soup!

The chips and salsa were good as well.  The salsa was a little on the tomatoey side for my taste, but had a nice mild spice level.

The main dish came out shortly after the soup.  (Isn’t that a nice festive tablecloth?)  The beans and tamales were good, the rice was unremarkable.  I’d certainly come here again.  The sign outside puts a special emphasis on seafood, I might explore that section of the menu next time.

Our server was friendly, and our food came in a timely manner. 

And then dessert came.  Today, I learned that I do not like flan.  Not that the flavor was bad, there’s just something… grainy… in the texture that doesn’t quite sit right.  I’m told it’s an acquired taste.  Perhaps so! 

Anybody want my flan?