Foodie Fridays: Casa Roberto – The Classic Mexican Dishes You Love

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If you’re an ex-pat or a frequent visitor to Mazatlán, then surely you’ve heard of the Hotel Playa Mazatlán, but have you heard of Casa Roberto?

It’s located at the very front of the iconic hotel, just inches off the sidewalk, yet it’s one of the city’s best-kept secrets for Mexican fare.

Yes, Casa Roberto is completely open to the public, so you don’t need to be a guest to dine here. And no, it doesn’t come with ‘inflated hotel prices’ that you might see elsewhere in town.

The mission of Casa Roberto is this: To serve up classic, time-honored, traditional Mexican dishes, in a cozy, familiar atmosphere.

It’s not fancy, it’s not pretentious, it’s just great Mexican food the way ‘abuelita’ makes it.

They strive to use as many local ingredients as possible, alongside using local recipes that have been handed down through generations, to produce dishes and flavors true to Sinaloa.  From their homemade Horchata to the delicious enchiladas, this is the place to indulge in your favorite Mexican classics.

Here’s what really impressed us – The low prices. At Casa Roberto, you get a seat in a beautiful restaurant at one of the best hotels in town, yet the prices are hardly higher than from the cart of a street food vendor.

Tacos and enchiladas are 30 pesos, gorditas, tostadas, and quesadillas are 35 pesos, or you can get a huge plate of guacamole or cheese fondue to split for 80 pesos.

Before we sampled the menu, Lance Vient, the Operational Manager of the Hotel Playa Mazatlán, gave us a behind the scenes tour of the kitchen. We got to see first-hand the kind of care and attention that goes into the food they serve to their guests. They inspect, wash and disinfect every fruit and veggie by hand, their water (even ice!) goes through a rigorous 4-stage purifying process, and their kitchen is sparkling clean.

This means that if you are wanting traditional Mexican dishes, but you don’t want to play Russian roulette with your stomach, Casa Roberto is the place to indulge your cravings – worry-free.

The Food

We started off with a beverage that is famous in Sinaloa because it’s been made here since 1870! ToniCol. This is a bubbly drink that is flavored with vanilla and tastes somewhat like a cream soda, but better in my opinion.

Then came two more popular Mexican drinks that you’ll find at every food stand across the country. Horchata and jamaica juice!

Horchata is a creamy drink made from rice water instead of dairy and is sweetened with sugar and sometimes vanilla and/or cinnamon. Jamaica juice is made from steeping hibiscus flowers and results in a sweet and tart punch.

After drinks, we completely dove into basically every Mexican dish they have, sampling and sharing everything under the sun. Chips and salsa was served to the table, quickly followed by a massive plate of guacamole that can be easily shared between two or more people.

Out came tacos, tostadas, quesadillas, stuffed chile peppers, and other classic favorites, all plated on quintessential Mexican dishes, topped with delightful garnish.

I would love to explain all the flavors of each dish for you, but it’s almost impossible to describe all the seasonings working in tandem. Some were spicy, others mild, but all were fresh, filling, and exactly what I expected from true Mexican food.

The Menu & Prices

It’s a simple and small menu yet checks all the boxes! Here are some of the highlights:

  • Queso Fundido 75 pesos
  • Guacamole to share 80 pesos
  • Tortilla soup with avocado 55 pesos
  • Tacos 30 pesos
  • Enchiladas 30 pesos
  • Gorditas 35 pesos
  • Tostadas 35 pesos
  • Quesadillas 35 pesos
  • Cheese stuffed pepper 70 pesos
  • Glass of wine 55 pesos
  • Soda/Pop or Tonicol 28 pesos
  • Horchata or Jamaica juice 25 pesos

The Personal Touch

Casa Roberto is definitely a family affair. The ‘Roberto’ in Casa Roberto was actually Lance’s grandfather, a man who in the 1960s helped the Hotel Playa Mazatlán grow to new historic levels. He was even quite the carpenter and almost every elaborate wooden carving in the restaurant is either a direct replica of his work or his personal masterpieces.

If you are in the mood for some straight up, no fluff Mexican food, Casa Roberto should be on your list!

All About Casa Roberto

Open:
All week long for lunch and dinner – 1:00pm to 9:00pm
Address: At the Hotel Playa Mazatlán – Av. Playa Gaviotas No. 202, Golden Zone

This restaurant review is part of our NEW weekly column ‘Foodie Fridays‘. Each week we will feature an honest review from a local restaurant here in Mazatlán!
Are you a restaurant owner? Get in touch with us if you want to be featured in next week’s article!

Written By: Kashlee Kucheran of Travel Off Path
@kashlee_k

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