Casa Bella-San Angelo, Texas

In the last few months I haven't eaten near as much Mexican food as I would like as I'm trying (rather unsuccessfully) to drop a few pounds in an effort to become more healthy.  The one place that I frequent quite a bit is Casa Bella. Because I am at Angelo State on Tuesdays and Thursdays it is very convenient.  AHHH but convenience isn't necessarily the only thing that draws me to this place.  I genuinely enjoy the food and service.  Lets face it this restaurant is new and it is growing.  What it lacks in atmosphere it makes up for in some of the best food and service San Angelo, Texas has to offer.  The gentlemen who own this place are slowly but surely adding the atmospheric touch but the food has been on point since day one.  I've had a number of different plates including Mia's Plate which consists of a small Ribeye topped with grilled onions, bell peppers, tomatoes and jalapenos along with rice and beans.  Rice is very aromatic and not dried out as many restaurants tend to do because of a long stay in the oven.  Refried beans are also very tasty and complete that particular plate out very well.  The appetizer chips come out to the table warm and with a very fruity red tomato salsa with a slight kick.  Nothing overwhelmingly burning about this salsa so to each his own.  They have daily lunch specials that are also very appealing.  Will's plate is one that comes to mind but I haven't gotten to try it again because I'm not there during the time it is served. Fajitas are another solid entree here and again very tasty and tender.  One of my favorite offerings of Casa Bella is the Caldo De Res.  This translates to Beef Soup in case you didn't know.  If I'm guessing the ingredients correctly of course you have some beef which seems to be chunks of tender roast along with cabbage, carrots, onions, cilantro, a little potato, and a small piece of corn on the cob with a little tomato sauce in the broth.  It is one of the best things you can have on a cold day and it is lovingly served with a side of your choice of corn or flour tortillas, some lime wedges, and some rice.  Although it needs no addition of anything to add to flavor I love to drop a little red salsa in for just a little more tomato and pepper flavor.  Cheese enchiladas are also very solid here as my wife has attested to.  A quote here from an old Cheech and Chong recording. Cheech on the phone with a prospective date asks the question: "OH you don't like Mexican food?" Apparently he gets a reply and then says,  "OOHHHHH ju don't like Mexicans!" Well I love me some MexiCANS and Casa Bella has quite a few of those because they can and do many things quite well.   Well if Mexican food isn't your thing then try the chicken strips.  My daughter told me they are some of the best she has had and she particularly liked the gravy.  Jared eats burgers everywhere and he was very satisfied.  Jonah is the bean connoisseur of our family and maybe even in San Angelo in his age bracket.  In speaking with one of the owners (as well as careful observance) it is very evident that the team concept prevails and is instilled in the staff here.  I mentioned to him that everyone is very attentive and it all boils down to the teaming concept.  Regardless of who you "belong" to as far as wait staff is concerned you will still be greeted, helped, and waited on by a slew of different people all trying to give you the best experience.  I have yet to be mistreated here in any way.  I asked the owner about their desserts and whether they were made in house because I had just consumed a delectable piece of Tres Leches cake and it was amazing.  Although this dessert was not made in house it is prepared in a local bakery and brought to the restaurant on a daily basis.  If you have a family and you are on a budget then obviously this place can meet your Mexican food craving and still keep your pocketbook intact.  There's not really anything on the menu that is very expensive which makes this place even better in my book.  If you are looking for a restaurant whose cuisine is just a little bit different than what's out there in San Angelo then stop by and see Will and the rest of the staff.  I'm sure that they can prepare you something that you will enjoy. 



Food: GREAT FOOD!

Atmosphere:          Atmosphere not quite there yet but they are working on it.

Prices: Prices for what you get here are most excellent.

Service:  From top to bottom service is some of the best ANYWHERE.

Overall: 1/2

For one of the newer places in town they are one of the shining examples of what hard work and determination can do.

Casa Bella On Facebook

Sideoats Cafe and Bakery

I've known Chef Mike Hennessy for a number of years and have had the pleasure of working with him on a few occasions albeit briefly.  I've always been impressed with Mike and his drive to succeed and his can-do-attitude. His Menard eatery Sideoats Cafe and Bakery is a testament to what Mike is able to do and just how well his team rallies around him to put out consistently good food and desserts. I've been to Sideoats a few times but this was the first time I have decided to do a review because I was able to sample their savory dishes as well as dessert.

 We were on the road Monday night and rather than stopping at Junction for the ever familiar taste of Coopers BBQ I wanted a nice sit down meal with a few more choices along with some dessert.  We drove the few extra miles and arrived in Menard about and hour and a half before closing time.  We were happy to finally be getting near to home but we would have been eating at 9 had we waited.  I prefer to have my dinner between 6-8 pm if at all possible and Sideoats was just the place I had a hankering for. 

We were greeted promptly as we came in.  It wasn't that busy but in a small town and on a Monday night you'd expect things to be a little more laid back and this was no exception.  We ordered our drinks and after they were served we ordered our food.  I had an opportunity to take a few pics to highlight the interesting atmosphere at Sideoats. 






















I decided to have a Chicken Fried steak while my wife opted for a grilled chicken sandwich on Rye.  If you follow this blog you know my boys by now and that they usually eat the same thing when we travel and of course Jared had a cheeseburger.  Jonah had a grilled cheese with some home made chips.

My meal started off with a beautiful salad.  Doesn't everyone say that when they talk about salad? Well they might but I really mean it.  Take a look:

This mixed greens salad had a few cucumbers and grape tomatoes strewn in.  There were a couple of bites of celery and onions and as you can see it was garnished with some tasty home made croutons.  Here's another view of this gorgeous salad:

Oh and did I mention the dressing was also home made?  This creamy buttermilk ranch was the perfect lubricating agent for this wonderful salad.  In fact this salad was so good and my wife so impressed by it that she had to get one herself.  OH waitress?  Another salad please......Thank yuh!





I've had many chicken fried steaks on many occasions.  In San Angelo there are many Mexican food places that serve them with chicken gravy on them and they are all fine.  The real way to serve a CFS is to cover it in cream gravy.  Chef Mike knows how to put a good plate together and this CFS was tender, tasty, and perfectly seasoned.  To the right of the CFS you will see some grilled or what I've also heard called "scorched" green beans.  These fresh green beans are tossed with some caramelize onions and allowed to scorch a bit on the grill bringing out their natural sugars.  WOW.  This is one of my new favorites.  The french fries were also very good and the yeast roll went perfectly with a pat of butter dipped in the gravy.  I was most impressed with it.

My wife had a Monterrey Jack Chicken Sandwich with mushrooms, lettuce, tomatoes and mayo on Rye along with some fries.  It looked good and it was also very tasty.  It also retained its moisture and you could see the tasty breast meat glistening under the bread.  Here's a pic:



My son's burger was equally appetizing as you can see here:

This mushroom Swiss burger looked to be juicy but of course in the hands of my 13 year old it didn't last long enough for me to get a bite of it!  I wasn't able to get a pic of Jonah's Grilled Cheese Sandwich but I know he liked it because it was also gone.

We also elected to have some dessert.  Jared had Tuxedo Cake, while Elizabeth and Jonah had Cherry Pie.  I decided on Apple Pie ala mode and I don't think any of us was disappointed.  Here are the pictures:

I topped it all off with a glass of Texas Iced tea.  It was an excellent meal.

Food:

Everything we had was perfect. 

Atmosphere was great:

Atmosphere at Sideoats keeps with the theme.  Laid back.

Excellent Prices:

Prices for the quality you get can't be beat.   

Service Excellent: 

Our waitress was experienced and it showed.  She did an excellent job and took care of us.  If a doctorate was ever issued for being a waitress she would have graduated with honors.  Can't say enough about just how good she was. 

Overall:

Mike Hennessy knows what he's doing and I'm so glad he's found his niche with this place.  This place is highly recommended with no reservations whatsoever.  Get to Menard, Texas and give it a try.  You won't be disappointed.