Mexican in Swindon

La Casita
web page
Located in Swindon, Wiltshire

My husband and I are always on the lookout for good Mexican food. So it came as a surprise that we found a place almost under our noses. We dragged my father-in-law with us one evening, and I was slightly fearful he'd be polite and barely touch anything. As it turned out, he was game for anything and emjoyed it almost as much as we did. Even the pitcher of (the best I've ever had) Margaritas.

Be forwarned. It's not Mex-Tex. And it's not Taco Bell. This is the authentic stuff. The site mentioned above has a whole menu...plus the story of the man who runs it.

If you go, make reservations. It's tiny and popular!

ohmigod lisaE, that website had me drooling! and to think, we've stopped by near swindon a few times to go to the outlet mall, and that yummy-looking place was practically around the corner!!

i will certainly have a look (or try to make reservations) the next time we are anywhere near there! thanks for the heads up and the link!!

Thanks for the info Lisa E. my hubby and i are going to Rockley next weekend..its where his dad lives and we are staying in Marlborough for two nites, i have made a reservation at that mexican place...will let you know how it goes..where is the outlet mall and what shops are there??

Sorry Blondshania! I was away, and am just now seeing this question. I know it's too late but the outlet mall is Great Western Designer Outlet Village. And...we're going to La Casita this Saturday! Did you get there, and if yes, how did you like it?

We went to LaCasita with my hubbys dad and step mom...i ordered a chimichanga, tristan had some shrimp dish in white wine, i also had sangria ....the food was good i thought,sangria was so so...but it was a bit noisy and crowded...tristan had an upset tummy that nite..so not sure if it was becz of the meal...would we go back?  probably....we also did the outlet mall...checked the tommy shop and the others..nice mall

We went Saturday night. The margarita was a bit light on the hard stuff, and the first pitcher ordered (frozen, no rocks) was actually thawed, so I think they got the 'no rocks' but not the 'frozen' bit of the order. The next one had rocks and not too much hard stuff. They had Dos Equis; I wonder if they have Corona?

We enjoyed, but portions seemed to have gotten smaller. I was tempted to steal some from the shrimp fajitas order. But the best bit of the meal was the company. We had a riot...and probably disturbed the folks next to us.

Awwwwww, you're too kind. My taco salad was very good and the other half seemed to inhale those shrimp fajitas...now about those margaritas...... I was tempted to go help the bartender with the next pitcher - or at least watch the tequila going in with an eagle eye.

The lady sat next to us completely freaked me out by not only eavesdropping mercilessly (guess there's nothing left to say to hubby??) but also eating sour cream out of a ramekin with a teaspoon as if it was chocolate pudding :-/

Yes, her comments I believe were "This is just like creme fraiche!"

Newly spotted: a second Mexican Restaurant in Swindon, just around the corner from La Casita. It's called Jalapenos and looks to be more TexMex, more "standard". I'll let you know more when we've sampled it.

As promised, my review of Jalapenos in Swindon...

Don't go.

They got just about everything wrong.

Oooh, we need the gory details!

Is it that hard to get Mexican right?

     

Heck, Hopster - you're not encouraging a negative post are you?

Here's what Lisa ordered:

Drinks - "Magherritas?" ... "We don't do them".

Starter - Menu said "Buffalo Chicken Wings".
My description of dish - Plain broiled chicken wings served on a bed of lettuce with honey and mustard dressing.

Main Course - Menu said "Beef Chimichanga".
My description of dish - Hot Chilli in a tortilla with Salsa spread on top.  Accompanied by salad served with mustard dressing.

Vegatable option - Menus said "beans"
My description of dish - served in a skillet for two to share, topped with melted cheese that made it look rather like a minuature lasagne

Of course, I can never resist leaning over and trying whatever Lisa's eating ... and I have to say that the wings were well cooked.  The chilli was a bit hot for me personally (I'm a Vindaloo not a  Phall type normally) and beans like that were - well - something I'd not tried before.

Other dishes?  Dad had "Chicken Fajitas", but I think the cook misread the order and provided "Chicken for fire eaters".  I had a Chicken Chimichanga, which was the same thing, but came pre-assembled and not in kit form.  [Why weren't there any assembly instuctions with Dad's Fajitas?]

I have to say I think we're very fussy about what we like to think of as "Mexican" food, even though we've  never been to Mexico (the word "hypocracy" comes to mind). As far as I know, the above could be the closest you can get to real Mexican in England, and we could be hankering after "Florida Mexican".

Graham!! What a joy to see you here! And your post has made me cackle endlessly - what a highlight to my day!

Oh your poor Father! Didn't he suffer the indignities already with a visit to Taco Bell??  Bless him, I bet he never complained once.

The food sounds dire!  But hey, you've saved us all a trip

I think Chimichangas are burritos that are deep-fried.  At least that's what they were always doing at the restaurant I worked at back in the younger days.

The post had me chuckling too...and I was there!
Actually, when I think of Mexican food, I don't consider it to be hot...I think that comes with the fixings, like slasa or jalapenos. And while we tried to take great care and not force my father-in-law to eat "spicy" we were confident the fajitas would NOT be hot (spicy). As it was, they were intolerable. I think this was Mexican with an Indian fire. The hot wings were neutral, the salsa just chopped tomatoes and onions, and as for its namesake, jalapenos were not to be found. Never had a beef chimichanga that was filled with chili, complete with beans, and made with a tomato sauce that was spiced to the hilt. Was halfway through before I came across any meat. Rarely for me, I did not finish it.

It's located down the little back street perpendicular to La Casita in Swindon and is above a bar.