Restaurant Detail

Casa Amiga Authentic Mexican Food (Mexican)
1720 Redwood Ave
Grants Pass, OR 97527
(541) 956-8602

Overall rating:			(Based on 18 ratings)
Most recent rating:			07/01/2010 03:51 PM
Highest rating:
Lowest rating:
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Most Recent Ratings
	07/01/2010	FaerieChild
	06/29/2010	AH23
	06/26/2010	Top Chef
	06/19/2010	Endeross
	04/25/2010	diogenes
Rating Breakdown
	5
	9
	2
	1
	1

User Reviews

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Love, Love LOVE this resturant!!! Unpretentious and friendly every time I go in. Their tacos are so much more Mexico Authentic than most any other resturant in the valley. The pastore is so tasty, and you'd better have a buddy to help you eat the nachos---cause they're huge!! My kids thing their burrito is the bomb. I think I eat there at least twice a week!

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Very, very good food. Friendly service and atmosphere. Their Chile Rellano isn't 'slimey' like you find at most restaurants. Their pastor is excellent. Love the burritos, tacos, tamales, and sopes.

They have margaritas now too!

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It's official. I do not like Casa Amiga. I have tried this establishment five times.

The BBQ is sub par; chicken is fatty, sauce is boring.

I've tried the fish tacos; un-flavorful and fishy.

I've tried the burrito's; I can make better at home.

I've tried the enchilada's with green sauce; overly tangy sauce tasted like it was on the verge of going sour.

Today I had huevos rancheros; flabby corn tortilla with over cooked eggs smothered in a sweet tomato sauce.

Each time the refried beans were not hot and tasted straight out of a can. One time they tasted scorched. The rice has an odd flavor and reminds me of rice with a cheap saffron flavor. If you like Casa Amiga then you have fallen into the Americanized - Mexican food trap. There is nothing "Authentic" here, not even the piñata's made in China. I would have given and F, however I did see one thing that impressed me. No, not the flashy decor, the waitresses were cleaning all the tables, booths and chairs. They were actually pulling the booths apart to clean them. That deserves some credit. Sorry Casa, I can no longer give you my money. I tried, you failed.

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Good Mexican food. Great service and owners. Friday bbq ribs are pull apart amazing. Only complaint is the dingy surroundings sadly :(

Would be an A if not for that

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You have to try the sopes. Seriously, these are the best sopes I've had outside of Mexico. Carne asada is my filling of choice. You get 3 sopes for $5, and that is a full (and delicious) meal.

I've mentioned before that this is the only restaurant around where you can get pulque. (True, it's in a can, but canned pulque is better than no pulque.) Pulque is an acquired taste and not everybody likes it but, on a hot day, nothing hits the spot quite like pulque. Wait till the temperature hits 3 digits, and then try some.

WRT to the last reviewer's comment about greeting and seating, there are different kinds of restaurants. I used to frequent Casa Amiga when it was across the street, in a much smaller venue with only a few tables. It's such a casual environment that it never occurred to me to stand and wait to be seated. You just sit down. When they see you sitting at a table, they bring you a menu. The owners have always been very friendly. Maybe they've had to hire new staff since they expanded, and maybe the new staff isn't as warm and friendly as the owners are. Success has its price.

But, when I want real Mexican food in a casual atmosphere at a very reasonable price, Casa Amiga is the place I go.

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I've been to this restaurant's new location twice now. It's a bit out of the way but worth finding. I've also been to their old location many times.

First some good things. I actually liked the ambiance, which I'll graciously call fun, colorful and kitschy.

The live music is endearing at first but can begin to wear on you after a bit. The ballpark organ sound can only go so far. The musicians should mix up the sounds just a bit more.

The margaritas seemed to be fairly sized and cost $6.50 each. They were passable but just a bit too sweet and seemed a bit lighter on tequila than others I've had.

I think it was $4.95 or $5.00 for a burrito which was huge. I ate the whole thing and ended up way too full. If you come here be hungry or know what you are ordering. At other tables we could see enormous portions of food being served. Also my wife's burrito was made "wet" at no extra charge, something I wish I had done as well.

I didn't see hot carrots on the menu but I asked and they had them. It was $1.00 for those on the side, and they were good, but almost too hot for me to handle.

We were hoping for fish tacos but apparently those are only offered on Friday nights?

One more good thing: They bring bottles of red and green sauce to your table. That's a nice plus.

Now a few things there were not the best. I sincerely hope that staff at the restaurant will consider these impartial observations.

On one visit I placed an order to go and sat down with my ticket. While I was waiting a new staffer took over at the counter. Eventually a bag of food was brought up by a third person and left at the counter. No one on staff seemed remotely concerned about the food just sitting there and who might be waiting for it. No effort was made to check, even though I was sitting just a few feet away and clearing waiting and holding my ticket. Finally I got up and asked and found out that yes, it was my food. That was disappointing.

Staff seems efficient but not very friendly. If I had to use one word to describe the service I guess I'd say sterile. My impression was that they were all doing their own thing and no one was taking proactive action to make sure customers were being taken care of. There seemed to be very little team approach.

I'll provide an example of something I observed: I had a view of the entrance during my dinner. A couple walked in and waited to be noticed. No one ever helped them and eventually they seated themselves. The lack of a proper greeting can be a killer in the restaurant business. In this case, however, it worked out and a staff member quickly noticed them and brought them menus.

Then another couple arrived and the same thing happened again. The person working the counter was busy with a customer. No other staff member took action to make sure this couple was greeted. A staffer even brought food up to the counter and then walked away, completely ignoring the couple that was waiting. I guess it wasn't part of her "job" to pay attention to them.

Eventually the couple gave each other a look, nodded, and walked out of the restaurant. I could see them talking with a lot of energy as they walked back to their car. As I watched inside the restaurant I realized that not a single employee of the restaurant even knew what had just taken place. The restaurant wasn't that busy so that was no excuse for something like that. I doubt those people will return any time soon and they may even give out negative reviews to other people.

This is a fun restaurant and I look forward to returning again and again. If I was the owner I would emphasize with staff that ALL of them are responsible for taking care of the customer, and that a little more personality and charm will go a long way to matching the otherwise festive atmosphere they have created.

I see they are #1 on this web site. If they want to stay there I hope they'll consider these observations as helpful.

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First time to new location: excellent and easier parking and big, big room.

Several tables for 12 for groups.

More items in the mexican store.

Went for the barbeque of course, since friday. Now they also have brisket sandwishes, along with the chicken, ribs.

We bought home a whole chicken, and l/2 rack of ribs for $20.90.

A little concerned that there were not more people there, as Friday and sunny. Would have had trouble finding it, but they have sign on redwood ave. with an arrow.

Continued excellence and very, very nice owners.

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yep...authentic!

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It pays to have good friends in the area. We were introduced to this place last night. Absolutely wonderful, authentic mexican and american BBQ. The BBQ is only on Fridays. The regular mexican menu is all week long. This would be 5 stars if it was a little nicer surroundings, but it is in a strip center, and typical of many mexican dining experiences. But the food is awesome. Our friends talked to the owner about giving us one of everything so we could really sample the food.

So I will rate the entrees one by one.

Tamales - good, have had better. but nice and fresh
Carne Asada Taco - awesome. These folks know how to make really wonderful tacos, and serve them with fresh lime, and great salsa on the side.
Carne Asada Burrito - this is usually my favorite dish at many mexican places. Here it is huge, and delicious. Definitely a meal.
3 meat Quesadilla - oh this is just the best I have ever had. So yummy and flavorful.
Mexican sandwich - now this has another name on their menu, but since it is the only sandwich offered, you will know what I am rating. It was also superb, on a grilled cuban style bread, with avocado and cilantro and several meats. Another meal in itself.
Enchilada - chicken - it was good. Again, not memorable, but almost everything else was.

On your first trip, I would definitely recommend splitting a few things with friends so you can try several of there wonderful dishes.

They don't advertise. They don't have a listing in the phone book, and your GPS won't even have them but they are at 1720 Redwood Avenue, Grants Pass. They are only open until 8 pm, so no late dining. Open for lunch and dinner. I did see lots of people coming in to get takeout.

This one is a keeper, for sure.

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It is FRIDAY....barbeque day.

Scrumptous and reasonable price.

I now take my own containers for take out, so that the styrofoam does not leak in the car.

I bought enough for most of the week, and the food will be just as good in 3 days as today.

You are missing out if you don't go there, but they ran out of chicken by 2 pm and they were really crowded.

Full rack of ribs $15.95

Full chicken $10.95 and that comes with 2 sides and bread.

FRIENDLY owners ---- none better--- they even carried my goodies to the car.

AWESOME & DELICIOUS.

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I wish I could rate them even higher.

This is Friday, the barbeque day.

There were maybe 150 there to partake. Yet the wait was less than 10 min.

I got the whole cut up chicken to go for $10.50. Exc. price. (Backdoor Barbeque is $18 for a whole chicken to go.) Have not tasted theirs, just saw prices on line.

It also comes with sides.

I said I had not tasted the ribs, and immediately I was brought one so surcombed to the half side. Good value at $9.95 with sides, but next time will get the whole side for $16.

So hot, yet Jose was grilling.

If you don't know about their friday barbeque, you are really missing out.

have not tried the reg. menu, as I am there on Fridays, but many were having mexican and not barbeque.

EXCELLENT and alot of Mexican food products also. It is like a quick trip to the MIssion District of San Francisco.

A++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

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I really like this place. Their sopitos are great, CNW. I was looking forward to having them for dinner yesterday, but they were out of them. So I had a tostada, a fish taco, and a couple of pulques.

AFAIK, Casa Amiga is the only place where you can get pulque locally. Pulque is a drink made of fermented agave. It's more thirst quenching than beer because it's a little tart and not as carbonated. Next time you're there, try it! (And tell them you read about it on ILGP.)

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Fantastic burritos, tamales, and cheese enchiladas, not to mention BBQ on Fridays.
Next I'm trying the sopitos and maybe the salad amiga after that. And the salsa...oh, the salsa.

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Very good food and service in a friendly, relaxed environment. Brought the kiddo with me and she declared it the best, most authentic Mexican food she has had in GP. (She eats out a lot in Mexico!)

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What a great place, tried this place tonight for the first time and the food was excellent. The waiter (Owner?) was very appreciative of us and was very funny. The food was enjoyed by all, even our young children.

Highly recommended.

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Best authentic mexican food in town. Owners are super friendly and make you feel like you are at home. Food is superb!

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Great salsa; xtra sauces w/some meals; Nice staff.

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Love IT! Their Carne Asada Tacos and their Tamales are the bomb.

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This is an excellent restaurant. Great tostadas and quesadillas. Wonderful burritos. Friendly atmosphere. Really good and unique salsa. I like this place!

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Great carne asada tacos, tostadas, and burrito! I love their smoky hot sauce, too.

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Food is consistantly delicious. Service is fast and friendly with very well priced meals. I highly recommend for authentic mexican food.

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Very small mom & pop type operation with personal service. Owners are friendly and very accomodating. Food is excellent, and served quite fast! Price is cheap!

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