New owners of CASA LARA (Jalapeño’s)

So, we ventured out for lunch on Tuesday 05/12 to try the new Casa Lara in clock-tower plaza.  It's in the old Jalapeño’s space, which had decent food in the past.  One reason my husband and I ventured there in particular was two GLOWING reviews posted on the internet the past 2 weeks, one was even featured in post about the Elgin Wine Festival and what a great food sponsor was to be found in Casa Lara - the new owners are fixing up the restaurant for higher clientele, wine selection, etc.

Needless to say - NOTHING is changed in there, it’s 10x’s worse!!! I was a little disappointed when walking in to the EMPTY dining room at 12:30,. but we ordered to give them a chance – and they seemed eager and welcoming to please new customers.

Our drinks (a diet coke and margarita) took 10 minutes to make and the coke was flat, the time from ordering of food to serving was 40 minutes, and the orders were completely wrong and the food cold – but we had chips and salsa to munch on in our wait, argh. 

With the food -- for example, I order a Burrito Suizo with Asada steak... it was cold, no suizo, filled with beans and rice and 2 pieces of meat total.  The owner, who was also our cook, didn't know why we were upset.  My husband asked for Ground beef in his enchilada’s and received a mix of cheese, beans and 'mystery meat' on a cold plate of more beans and dry rice. 

We gave then $10 for the drinks and chips and walked out – I found my Asada Steak at Quizno’s on Douglas street in the form of a 'sammie' – hubby had the Tornado in a hurry, we just ran out of time to venture to a more reliable Mexican Restaurant on our lunch hour.

I will suggest that they get things in order really quick there, especially since they appear to be posting their own reviews on the web about how great and upscale everything is now.  So beware the food from CASA LARA at the Elgin Wine Festival next weekend. I usually don't post negative reviews, but this was the hands down WORST lunch service, food and experience I've had in Elgin to date.

Last edited by Gibster (2009-05-14 23:04:46)