Tasty Travels & other Stories

While Christmas shopping yesterday i Orland Park, I noticed that an Italian restaurant that we had frequented a few time was now a Mexican restaurant, the Casa Margarita. I asked the clerk at the Dollar Store we were getting stocking stuffers if she had eaten there? After getting a No from her and 2 other staff, a gentleman from south of the border behind us said ‘Casa Margarita, good food!’ One recommendation is all it takes for me to try a new place so off we went.

As it turns out, this is the a second restaurant, they are also located in La Grange. The sign out from advertised that a buffet lunch was available so we commented on how we were here at the wrong time. It is had to find a Mexican buffet when there is a Chinese one on every corner, go figure.

Walking in was a wonderful transformation from the Italian bistro to a Mexican cantina. A festive place just what you would hope for. We were quickly served chips, salsa and a veggie mix of carrots & cauliflower that had the flavor of giradillie; both were on the heat scale of about 3 to 4. Or waitress was a little slow getting to our table although I think she may have just taken the order from a larger party near by. When she did arrive, she was friendly and attentive. We were ready to order, not going to wait for drinks first as we weren’t sure how long that might be.

Sangria was our choice this evening since they had it by the glass, 1/2 carafe, and carafe. Since we had a long drive yet ahead of us, 1/2 carafe was the choice since you can usually get a glass & 1/2 out of that. WRONG. They had filled the carafe 1/2 full of ice before the sangria. We each got one wine glass full of liquid (which by the way was very good) and that was with ice in the wine glass as well. Both of us sipped our drink before the meal arrived like we were dying of thirst in the desert knot knowing when our next meal would arrive.

For me, the pork tamale dinner was my choice. Few Mexican restaurants offer tamales as a dinner option. They had a great flavor but lacked in the meat department which eventually caused them to seem dry. I told Suzanne they needed some Pappasito’s tamale sauce on them.

Suzanne had a combo with pork Tamale, chicken enchilada, and beef taco. She commented on how each had their on unique flavors. Too often Mexican places use the same sauce & filling for everything and you can’t tell one thing from another. She was very pleased.

I forgot to mention that for an appetizer, chicken soup was served. Neither of us saw this on the menu so it was a pleasant surprise.

Overall, we would try it again. But probably not till we tried the other 15 places we haven’t tried on our list in the Orland Park area. (Unless we’re there at lunch for the buffet) Oh yea, Harrison’s, that’s top on our list in the area. We just don’t get there often enough.

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