Wine Me and Dine Me… At Casa Carmelita
(530) 832-5360
By: Melissa Wynn
Cold winter weather often puts me in the mood for hot and spicy food to warm up the insides. After a chilly day of shopping in Portola, Casa Carmelita was an excellent choice for getting dinner with just what I was looking for.
We were greeted at the door by the wonderful cilantro touched aromas of Mexican cuisine. New owner Lena Dollard seated us with a friendly smile and a hot cup of coffee, (my hero). The look of adobe décor adds a true Mexican feel. Soft music and dimmed lighting create a relaxing atmosphere in this little hometown restaurant.
Our meal began with the traditional chips and a good hot salsa that was homemade by Chef Elena Garcia. Not only does Elena make a mean salsa, the creamy red sauce covering my Shrimp Burrito was like nothing I’ve had before. Spicy, delicious and priced at a very reasonable $13.95, this meal is a new favorite for me. Our table also enjoyed the wonderfully flaky swordfish steak. Topped with Pico de Gallo and served with wasabi mashed potatoes, green salad, beans and Spanish rice, this meal could have fed us both for a mere $14.95. I was surprised at how reasonable the prices were at Casa Carmelita. The food was beautifully presented and cooked to perfection yet even a 14 ounce rib eye steak with prawns cost only $19.95. The lunch menu which offers various beef, chicken and pork Mexican delights all served with beans and Spanish rice or salad as well as burgers and a BLT starts at $6.50 and tops out at $9.95. You can’t beat that. For dessert I had my all time Mexican favorite, the sopapilla. This cinnamon sugar dusted crispy fry bread is the perfect sweet for putting out the fire on your tongue. Yummy! Fried ice cream is another dessert option and no Mexican menu is complete without the flan. We were just too full to try anything more. If you are looking for an exceptional Mexican meal look no further than Casa Carmelita in Portola, .that’s the place to find it. Friendly hometown service at an affordable price, another bonus of mountain valley living.
