Review: La Casita remains a Springville staple for Mexican food
An order of enchiladas is pictured Tuesday
, May 16, 2017,
at La Casita in Springville.
ISAAC HALE, Daily Herald
A margarita is pictured Tuesday, May 16, 2017, at La Casita in Springville. ISAAC HALE, Daily Herald
Street tacos are pictured Tuesday, May 16, 2017, at La Casita in Springville. ISAAC HALE, Daily Herald
Rice dip is pictured Tuesday, May 16, 2017, at La Casita in Springville. ISAAC HALE, Daily Herald
A chimichanga is pictured Tuesday, May 16, 2017, at La Casita in Springville. ISAAC HALE, Daily Herald
A margarita, foreground, and a strawberry daiquiri are pictured Tuesday, May 16, 2017, at La Casita in Springville. ISAAC HALE, Daily Herald
Being a salsa snob has its benefits and drawbacks.
The benefits? The appreciation of deliciously good salsa. The ability to live off said deliciously good salsa — whether on a day-to-day basis or the wild hypothetical of being trapped on an island where that’s all you could consume (a.k.a. heaven).
The drawbacks? I judge and remember a restaurant on its salsa and sometimes that brings initial disappointment (sometimes warranted and sometimes not), because some people prefer main dishes over salsa. Pardon the blasphemy, fellow salsa devotees.
However, I realize that the majority of the world only sees salsa as a precursor to a meal, so I will briefly acquiesce on this front because while Springville’s La Casita doesn’t haven’t salsa to rave about — fresh cilantro, lime and salt please! — it does have some other menu items that are unique when it comes to local Mexican fare.
La Casita is a staple in Springville. I’ve heard coworkers routinely talk about it. The restaurant’s tables are consistently packed during mealtimes. After decades of operation, devotion to it seems unwavering. Perhaps it’s the handful of unique menu offerings, the friendly, prompt service or maybe it’s its entrenched place of tradition within the community. Take your pick.
Our picks during a recent dinner started with the famous Rice Dip, which was indeed better than the salsa. While I’m not 100 percent sure what it was fully comprised of, it did have plenty of cheese, rice, sour cream and shredded pork. Between myself and two friends, we came nowhere close to putting a dent in it, as it was filled to the brim of quite a large appetizer bowl.
As for our entrees, we took the advice of our friendly waitress and ordered the customer favorites: Crab Enchiladas and No. 39 Enchilada Ranchera & Chile Relleno. My friend also was eager to try the relleno and a tamale, so she settled on No. 20: One Beef Enchilada, One Chile Relleno and One Beef Tamale.
Though initially skeptical of the Crab Enchiladas listed under the specialties section, they surpassed quizzical expectations. Filled with real crab meat and avocado, these seafood enchiladas are a different twist on what you might typically find. The Enchilada Ranchera, however, is much more traditional and is made with pork and served with the Salsa Ranchera that is made with various chilies, tomatoes and cilantro. My enchilada was stuffed with generous helpings of meat, though the tortilla encasing it all was a bit on the stiff side for my own taste.
As for the beef, my friend commented that the meat in her Beef Enchiladas tasted like her mom’s pot roast with an accompanying “mmm.” The Beef Tamale, covered in salsa, somehow still remained a little dry.
The Chile Relleno surprised us with its hint of sweet flavors — to which I’m not sure what to attribute — coupled with the mild spiciness of a cheese-stuffed poblano chile. All of this was accompanied with heaping sides of rice and refried beans that will satisfy anyone with a hankering for Mexican food.
Perhaps the best part of the dinner was the general hometown feel of a longstanding diner with its walls plastered in old, faded photos of customers and hand-painted murals with friendly staff that are quick and eager to be of any service.
Where: 333 N. Main St., Springville
Hours: Monday-Thursday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday-Saturday 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Prices: $4.99-$14.99
Info: (801) 489-9543