Food

Miami Needs More Hidden Gems Like Casa Mx

Casa Mx, Miamicurated — Taco of duck tinga

There should be more restaurants like Casa Mx in Miami. The owner greets you at the door. It has a warm,neighborhood feel about it. All the staff emit vibes that they enjoy working there. The prices are accessible. The menu is very appealing and the food is tasty. There’s free parking. And the music is low so it’s easy to have a conversation. We knew we’d return, most likely with friends, after our first visit.

It is described by its owner Mario Bernal whose background includes The Setai, Rosa Mexicano and the Jose Andres Group as a Modern Mexican restaurant where you go and want to linger. He calls it Casa Mx because he wants his guests to feel at home. The menu takes it cue from Mexico City where indigenous traditions cross with both regional and global influences.

The menu at Casa MX is divided into to start, cold plates, tostadas, tacos, small plates, ensaladas and large plates.

We started with – no surprise – guacamole served in the traditional stone mortar, a molcajete made from porous volcanic rock. It was very creamy and exceptionally tasty. I followed it with a recommendation from Mario, the very fresh tuna ceviche with not your usual preparation, with avocado, soy and pecans. Next up the duck tacos which you rarely find, the reason I ordered them. The duck is made tinga style, shredded and simmered in a smoky, savory sauce made from tomatoes, chipotles in adobo, and onions. I had two and could have eaten two more I liked them so much. Mr. W ordered the chicharron quesadillas which are more like tapas than your usual large quesadilla. They were made with chipotle, refried black beans and Oaxaca cheese and of course the fried pork rind.

We topped off the meal at Casa MX with a large plate, the carne asada, a very tender and delicious outside skirt steak, perfectly cooked and served with mole sauce, grilled nopales and rice.Next time I’d like to try the scallop tostadas with salsa cruda and cucumber, the whole fish with guajillo adobo and salsa verde, the shrimp with black garlic, and the Mexican shawarma chicken kebab with bean hummus, cabbage and Mexican tzatziki.

Complementing the kitchen, the cocktail menu is centered on agave spirits and classic Mexican cocktails like the Casa MX Margarita (Mijenta silver tequila, Combier, agave, lime, salt espuma), and Reposado Margarita (Centenario reposado, Combier, agave, orange blossom water, lime), as well as more innovative creations like Tigers Milk (Caraveda quebranta pisco, St. Germain, supasawa). We highly recommend the mezcal negroni with, for a negroni, an unaccustomed smokey taste and the Oaxacan Old Fashioned.

Cocktails at Casa MX range from $12 to $18; a glass of wine (5 ounce pour) starts at $12 and bottles at $44.

For one cocktail each, guac, one starter each and the steak which feeds two, expect to pay $125 plus tip and tax.

Casa MX spans several distinctive spaces across its 2,800-square-foot space, accommodating 150-seats, including a 52-seat patio, the main dining room, 12-seats central bar, and 86-seat dining room, divided into several rooms. The décor brought to mind a restaurant in a small town in Mexico – colorful walls, paintings of local scenes, and natural materials.

Casa MX is located at 2345 SW 37th Ave, Miami, FL 33145. Complimentary parking available outside. Reservations can be made on OpenTable at https://www.opentable.com/r/casa-mx-miami. To stay up-to-date on Instagram, follow https://www.instagram.com/casamxmiami/.