“Keeping it real” seems to be the catch phrase of this decade. I have found a restaurant in Columbus that does just that, keep it real. The ¿Qué Pasa, OSU? crew recently visited La Casita in northwest Columbus and received a dose of real, Jalisco-style Mexican food. The menu had a good variety of flavorful regional dishes, the hard-to-find drinks were served cold, and the exterior’s orange color exclaimed, “Look at me! I’m so Mexican, I’m tacky!” You couldn’t get much more authentic in Columbus. I think the patrons that packed the restaurant on that particular Saturday night will agree.

La Casita is a family restaurant owned and operated by the Favis family. This warm establishment has quickly gained popularity among recently-immigrated and native Columbus residents. In fact, La Casita has recently opened a second location. The menu features a large assortment of your favorite entrees like Fajitas ($9.95), side dishes like Quesadillas ($3.95), and rich desserts like Flan ($3.50).

I had the Carnitas Michoacan ($9.95), braised pork cooked in oil and slow-roasted over a low flame to give it a tender texture. Although the pork was a little bit dry, the combination of beans and rice was filling. I definitely recommend the Pollo Ranchero ($8.95), a serving of three tender chicken breast filets smothered in a sweet and spicy mole sauce. The portion size is plenty as it is also served with beans and rice. The Enchiladas ($7.95) can be filled with your choice of chicken or beef, and are covered in a tasty green salsa. Everyone’s favorite Fajitas ($9.95) are a good choice. This steamy dish is a heaping helping of chicken, beef, or both, with lots of grilled onions and green peppers. For dessert, we had the Flan. This is one dessert you do not want to miss. La Casita did add its own spin to it by adding rainbow sprinkles, placing a dollop of whipped cream on top, and adding chocolate syrup. Flan purists may find the signature recipe overwhelming, but I enjoyed the twist on the Mexican pudding.

The service at the restaurant was both attentive and courteous. Every table greets you with salsa that has a thick consistency just right for dipping, but not chunky. The chips were fresh and crispy with just the right amount of salt. Mexican music floated through the air, and the decorations were fixtures found in any Mexican home. La Casita does serve alcoholic drinks including your favorite Mexican beers. Also, try a selection from the juices including guava juice, mango juice, and jamaica.

Overall, the visit to La Casita was pleasurable. The seating area was clean and well-maintained by the wait staff. As mentioned, the food was delicious and served fresh. It really feels like a real Mexican restaurant with all of the hustle and bustle and inviting atmosphere of Mexico’s big cities. Pay a visit to La Casita when friends come from out of town, or just to get away from your studies.