I've been taking my time posting this review because I wanted to think a lot about what I would write. Not that I don't normally put thought into my posts, but I think a new Mexican restaurant in my hometown, where most of my readers are from, deserves extra time and attention. In March of 2024, Casa Latina opened its doors and I was beyond excited. I was a regular at Taco Pica so I was very much looking forward to this new Mexican place. I was even tickled that it was on the west side because I spent most of my life there and the west side needs more good restaurants. I waited a month before going and I am looking forward to going back and trying one of their specialty dishes because, as you will find out, I do not think I had the best thing that Casa Latina has to offer.
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| Casa Latina House Nachos with Steak - April 2024 |
Distribution of Toppings
The distribution of toppings was fair. You can see in this picture that everything is not spread around but we did get a lot of toppings.
Quality
The nachos were loaded with tasty and tender steak and tuma cheese. Tuma cheese used to be made with only sheep's milk, but now it can be used with cow's milk. The bartender explained to us that this cheese is commonly used in Mexico. The cheese was not melted and was only piled on top. This plate did not go into the oven so there was no toast factor. There were lots of different hot sauces available and you get pico de gallo, frijoles and a sweet salsa. If you want guacamole, you have to order guacamole and chips separately. These nachos are also not spicy. The atmosphere was one of the best parts of the experience - the decor was unique and beautiful and it made you feel like you stepped right into Mexico from the streets of Saint John.
Quantity
This was sufficient to share as a meal.
Value
The House Nachos are $22 and that includes the steak. I think the price is fair considering the whole experience you receive at Casa Latina.
Service
We got great service from the bartender and the owner who came by with some special mezcal! The staff had a super fun vibe. However, it did take quite a while to get our bill once we were all finished.
Conclusion
It is August 2024 as I write this and I have spent 4 months thinking about the conclusion to this review. When I told people about my experience and how they were different from my ideal plate of nachos, they said "this is probably an authentic plate that you would receive in Mexico." I took some time to think about that and while I have been to Mexico three times, I only had nachos in the very touristy parts of Mexico. The best nachos I had in Mexico were at La Parilla which has locations in Cancun, Playa del Carmen, and Merida. I also had nachos twice a day for 3 weeks when I studied in Merida and I remember those nachos being better than this. But is Merida super touristy? I really don't know what to think... it's been 20 years since I've been to Mexico.
What I can say about Casa Latina's nachos is that I appreciate how they are different from the other nachos offered in Saint John, but they would not be my preference. The distribution of toppings was fair, there was no toast factor, I didn't care for the taste or texture of the tuma, and there was not a lot of effort involved in putting that plate together compared to other nachos we get. There were some very tasty toppings though. Next time we visit Casa Latina, we'll be sure to try some of the other things on the menu, and I am sure they'll blow our minds.
Nacho Blog Rating: B+