Casita Guanajuato — Restaurant in Austin

I am a 15-year customer with a regular order. I am stupidly loyal to my local places, despite their current refusal to adhere to Stage 5 guidelines or re-open their take-out window. They also continue to use cheap styrofoam containers. I ordered plain nachos with toppings on the side for one of my kids, for take out. It was supposed to be a treat. When I arrived back home, I had been charged $9 for a container of separated raw chips, warm beans, and uncooked shredded cheese… with toppings on the side.

I called to ask what happened and to ask for a partial refund for food I had to cook. They refused and insisted I go back to replace it. During these interactions, I’m first told that it’s my fault for not understanding their “updated” pricing that had not been posted anywhere. Last week, and on their website right now, regular nachos are about $6.50. Rather than simply apologize for a language miscommunication, I’m then told it’s my fault for ordering the way I did… despite using the exact same language I’ve used for several years for the exact same order.

They made me wait while they cooked the nachos. After several minutes, my child — who’s been patiently waiting in the car, for a second order — hits a low blood sugar moment and accidentally sets off the car alarm while trying to get my attention inside. After leaving to check in with him, I return inside to ask for a timeline — I tell them that I need to feed my kid and am running out of time before a meltdown. At that point, the same server from earlier interactions coldly retorts, “There are orders ahead of yours.” Ok, well, you were the ones who made me come back. You could have just refunded me a couple bucks for needing to cook your bagged/canned ingredients.

Upon my second return home, one of the small salsa containers is so old and grossly fermented that it explodes upon opening. There’s much better food in north central Austin; I’m done with...

Casita Guanajuato serves diner-style food rather than the familiar Tex-Mex (so maybe more like the average Mexican eats? oh the shortcomings of being a norteamericano who's spent all of two days in Mexico). If you want Tex-Mex this might not be for you.

I had chilaquiles with chipotle sauce, pieces of corn tortilla and onion cooked in sauce, with a fried egg on top. It's a humble dish that I make at home but never saw on a Tex-Mex menu. It came with refried beans, onions, sour cream, and verde sauce. No tortillas, though I'm sure you can order them. Chips (good and crunchy, better than the usual Doritos-style) and salsa were served before the meal. I also got nopales with pico, pieces of prickly pear cactus with onions and tomatos. Imagine sauteed green bell peppers with a milder flavor. It's homey and nutritious.

Service was good, and they were patient with my Spanish practice session.

Summary: Mexican comfort food, in a diner atmosphere with attentive service, all for a reasonable price. I like it and...

Clean, fastidious very friendly employees. Traditional Fair done the way they make it. Out of the multitude of selections of traditional Mexican / Latino food in Austin I would rate this poorly as I have a palette for such things and found it a little bit under par. It may have been the way they made it somewhere else and traditional. But I pretty much judge Latin restaurants or Mexican restaurants with how they make a chili relleno. And it was on the menu. And it's a good focal point because everybody makes it differently. But this was a disaster. It was your typical not roasted poblano pepper with an egg wash over the outside of it with very little stuffing. As far as the rest of the plate how do you ruin rice and beans. I was not impressed with the food. Nor will I be going back. Sorry I usually give places the second chance but this just seems like they didn't get it. I don't know whose pallet they were trying to appeal to but it certainly was not mine. Not one of my...