LV LifeDining

Casa Garcia brings flavor to La Verne

Casa Garcia cook Antonio Velasco fries freshly chopped onions and bell peppers for a side dish that will compliment an enchilada. Garcia prepares all of the dishes from scratch at Casa Garcia. / photo by Tom Galaraga
Casa Garcia cook Antonio Velasco fries freshly chopped onions and bell peppers for a side dish that will compliment an enchilada. Garcia prepares all of the dishes from scratch at Casa Garcia. / photo by Tom Galaraga

by Anna Roy
Staff Writer

Newly opened, Casa Garcia’s Grill is a friendly, family-owned and authentic Mexican restaurant. The restaurant welcomes University of La Verne students with a 20 percent discount on all purchases.

Many La Verne residents hope that the restaurant will be a permanent addition to Old Town La Verne. The owners also hope to leave a lasting impression on guests. The site of the restaurant was formerly a coffee shop and then an Italian restaurant. Fasta Pasta, the previous restaurant closed its doors on Feb. 15. A few weeks later, Casa Garcia opened on March 2 after one week of remodeling.

Upon entering, Spanish music can be heard in the background. The restaurant décor can be described as Mexican-themed with different clay figures, candles and Aztec ornaments placed artfully throughout. Customers can choose to eat either inside or outside.

As for the food, co-owner Josefina Garcia, originally from the Mexican coastal state of Michoacan recommended “the Garcia burrito.” It is a flour burrito with rice, beans and carne asada, topped with tomatillo sauce, sour cream, guacamole, tomatoes, green onions and melted cheese.

All ingredients are fresh and all food is homemade. The prices vary with side orders available and dinner and lunch varying from $3.50 to $10.65.

The service is friendly, after a few minutes customers are greeted with a generous basket of warm homemade chips and salsa. Servers refill chips and salsa when needed.

Casa Garcia features a daily lunch and dinner special where a select item is featured at a lower cost. The menu lists in detail a variety of foods, with traditional Mexican dishes like tacos, burritos, taquitos, nachos, fajitas and huevos rancheros.

There are various lunch combinations ($4-$5): tamales, chalupas, tacos, arroz con pollo, chile relleno, chimichangas, tostadas, quesadillas and enchiladas. All dinner and lunch items come with abundant portions of Spanish rice, beans and salad.

Garcia also recommended the shrimp, chicken and beef fajitas, which come marinated in a special sauce served over a bed of sauteed onions and green peppers. For $8.95 a plate of Carnitas de Rez is available. It is a dish of top sirloin strips, cooked with green peppers and onions and a side of guacamole. For the convenience of customers phone in orders and to-go orders are available.

There is a wide selection of seafood, from a $3.50 ceviche tostada (chopped shrimp with tomatoes, onions, and cilantro marinated in lemon juice) to arroz camarones for $10.65. Its a plate (shrimp and mushrooms sauteed in a special sauce with tomatoes and onions served over a bed of rice topped with melted jack cheese, onions, and tomatoes).

On Saturdays and Sundays, Casa Garcia offers menudo, a Mexican specialty soup of beef tripe.

To drink, the restaurant offers the traditional options of beer, wine and soda as well as Horchata sweetened rice milk and Tamarindo juice, a bittersweet fruit juice.

Customers can choose to sit either inside or outside.

Since its opening, La Verne residents have been frequenting the restaurant. “The food seems great, it’s very authentic. I’ve been familiar with Mexican food all my life. I’m glad that they are here and I’ll tell you right off the bat, I think this place is better than Roxy’s Cantina,” said La Verne resident Pat Garcia (of no relation).

Casa Garcia is located at 2224 Bonita Ave. Its hours of operation are Sunday-Thursdays 11 a.m.-9 p.m. and Friday-Saturday 11 a.m.-10 p.m.

Anna Roy
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Tom Galaraga
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