Casa de Bandini

Casa de Bandini is a fun and colorful place. The lunch servers were friendly and competent and the setting is beautiful. However, the food is bland and not up to my expectations. I prefer Mexican food with bold flavors and that’s not what I got.
Next time I want to have a Margarita with friends, I’ll consider going there. Next time I want a Mexican food lunch, I’ll go to one of the many better places in Encinitas or Carlsbad.

By far, the best Mexican food we’ve ever had! My husband and I came to eat here b/​c it was very highly recommended and for good reason… everything was delicious! :-)

Was a little wary about this place going at peak time cuz it seemed pretty crowded, along with the other user reviews. But it was close to our hotel and we all wanted Mexican food and we needed to seat a large group. Fortunately, we got seated quickly even though dinner was busy-​time, but mine you, this was during the middle of the week.
The servers all wear traditional Mexican garb, the ladies do at least, and having a live mariachi band was awesome.
We ordered a ton of different items, the sampler plate is pretty big and can easily be shared between 2 – 3 people, possibly even four. We also had the taquitos and enchiladas which were all good. We tried several of the margaritas and they were all good, esp with the happy hour prices.
Good food and good atmosphere, would definitely come back if I’m in the areas
Service was pretty quick and efficient. Nothing out of the ordinary to mention, but good overall.
Parking — can be tough, because of the size of the plaza and the amount of other places everyone frequents, so I would always suggest to come early.

I seriously hate the give this place two stars… this used to be one of my go-​to favorite sit down Mexican restaurants in SD. Being born and raised in SD county, you know good Mexican food from the bad. This place usually delivered solid customer service +tasty food and drinks, at a bit of a steeper price, but usually it was worth it to me to have the nice environment once in a while when I didn’t feel like hitting up a taco shop.
Tonight was just bad bad bad. I came in with my family around 4PM for an early dinner and from the start, the hostesses were very unfriendly and rude. I asked if it was happy hour, and they informed me yes, it was, but only in the main bar area. Cool. So, I assumed you could go and buy a drink from the bar at happy hour price, and then take it back to your seat? NOPE. Gotta sit at the bar/​front area. Whatevs, fine.
3 different people came by, giving us one happy hour menu, and one regular menu, and cold chips. We were a party of 4, so having one menu wasn’t very helpful. Eventually we found out who our waitress was, and after repeating our order for drinks 4 times, she brought out the incorrect drinks. cool.
After waiting quite a bit, we were able to order, and I ordered the crispy cheese special w/​beef. I don’t think I’ve ever tasted something so salty in my life. I could only eat about 4 bites, and couldn’t stomach the rest it was so disgusting. It was like they dumped salt all over it. At least the crispy tortilla at the bottom was good. So I basically paid ~15 for a crispy tortilla which was a bummer.
Waitress never came to check on us the entire meal, and finally at the end when she came by once we were finished eating, she asked if I would like my food boxed up. I replied «No thank you, I actually didn’t enjoy the dish.» She proceeded to ask me if I would like something else instead, which of course I said no (because everyone else at my table has already finished eating… ummmm. hello?). Maybe if she would’ve come to check on us during our meal instead of huddling in a group of employees chit chatting together, she would’ve known I was not satisfied with my meal. Also, there was no discount on the check, no apology, no manager notified. triple cool customer service.
Love the ambiance here, but something has drastically changed with their food and customer service. I’d rather go to Juanita’s instead of wasting ~90 dollars here for a 4 person dinner that tasted disgusting.

The service was great. They were very attentive towards us and we had a great experience there. They even had live music! Two gentlemen came by and played music for the guests. They even let my kids play with the maracas while they played! They have 2 water fountains in the outdoor seating area, which was great for my kids to walk around and look at.
We got chips and salsa to begin with and our meals were big in portion. Everyone’s food came out in good time and was delicious. I think I liked the Carne Asada and shrimp dish the most. The enchilada populares was good too. The burritos that came out were pretty big in size.
Overall my family had a great experience.

I came in on Mother’s Day with my in laws and we had a party of 8. The wait was about 45 minutes so we walked around the shopping center until we got a text that our table was ready. They had the brunch buffet going on for $ 24.99/person but we weren’t looking to eat that much so we ordered from the regular menu instead.
The chips and salsa at the table weren’t that great. The salsa really lacked flavor and tasted watered down. My family ordered the ceviche to start and they all said it needed more flavor as well. I got an order of the chicken tortilla soup and it tasted like tomato soup with chicken bits in it. For meals, we ordered the huevos rancheros a la bandini, chicken mole enchiladas, enchiladas del mar, flautas, and the shrimp & mango quesadilla.
–Huevos Rancheros a la Bandini: They brought out the wrong huevos rancheros because the eggs were on top of a crispy tostada and not on soft tortillas. The meat was dry and tough and the potatoes were really mushy.
–Chicken Mole Enchiladas: The mole sauce was good and so was the shredded chicken mixture inside. I didn’t really care for the raw onion rings placed on top.
–Enchiladas Del Mar: My mother in law and brother enjoyed this dish. The black beans looked a lot better than the refried beans that came with the chicken mole enchiladas.
–Shrimp & Mango Quesadilla: Big pieces of shrimp throughout the quesadilla but there was a huge pile of guac and sour cream taking over the plate. My brother in law liked the quesadilla itself without the guac and sour cream.
The service was pretty good for it being so busy on Mother’s Day but we won’t be coming back because the food just lacking in flavor and quality.

The first time we tried this place I wasn’t sure. but now we go usually about once a week and I’m hooked. Especially hooked on their tequila lime shrimp and their skinny margaritas.
The service is always great and the waits always go by quickly when there is one (which is most of the time).

I’m very sad to have to update my review, this was my favorite Mexican restaurant for years. The last several times I’ve came here was not great, and the staff just isn’t as friendly as they used to be.
A while ago my boyfriend and I came here when it was very empty, lots of empty tables. We asked the hostess if we can sit somewhere away from people so we can be alone. She seats us and the table was perfect, next party that comes in she seats them at the table right next to us… we both got pretty upset. When there was so many empty tables.
2 other times I’ve recently visited I’ve had to send back my food because they got my order wrong and the other time my taco was already broken when it arrived.
This place is always so packed now, no matter what time you come it seems like there’s always a wait; sometimes up to 2 hours. Before it was never like that, since it’s now always so crowded it’s very loud. I can no longer say this place is good for a romantic date night because of how loud and crazy it gets in here.
The most recent time I came the food was very disappointing and the service lacked severely. I am a huge fan of their cheese enchiladas, there’s so much cheese in them. This time I ordered them they were just not good, they were extremely tough to cut. I actually ended up using my knife! My boyfriend ordered the chicken avocado tacos and the portion was way smaller than it used to be. The tacos were tiny, he said that it was the worst meal he’s ever had here; the chicken tasted like rubber. We both were super disappointed.
They also no longer have the sampler for an appetizer, which had taquitos, quesadillas, and nachos. That was extremely delicious and we were both super upset because we had been craving it! They can’t even make it for you if you ask.
My favorite thing about this restaurant now is the margaritas! I love the Rolls Royce, it is definitely my favorite margarita anywhere.
That being said I might return for their margaritas but the food can use some improvement for me to visit anytime soon.

MARGARITAS AS BIG AS YOUR HEAD!!!
Or, you can choose from one of the other 2 smaller sizes ;) We shared a large peach margarita, and along with our meal it was perfect for us!
I kind of expected this to be Chevy’s level of Mexican food… my extremely low expectations paid off, and I left full, happy and impressed overall with Casa de Bandini. For the flavor and quality, prices here are more than reasonable. The bar had a fun atmosphere also.
Throw a few back! Since this place is located in the same parking lot as the Forum Shops, you can walk off those libations as you stimulate the economy.

I LOVE Mexican Food more than any other type of Food so I am really pleased right now to be writing this 5 star review.
I contacted management via Unilocal yesterday to find out if they took reservations. I received a response within a few hours or so and was told that I could call an hour ahead from the time I wished to be seated, and that they could add me to a wait list. I appreciated the service/​information.
I called the restaurant an hour ahead as suggested. I was asked to leave my name and phone number. We got there a bit early so we chilled at the bar. Despite of it being busy, all of the interactions that I had with my server and others was friendly and prompt. We were also served fresh chips and salsa. Both were tasty.
I got an unexpected text from the restaurant letting me know that my table was ready. I really liked this! I hate carrying around those big buzzers so this was another HUGE plus!
Our server was very friendly and patient. We were waiting on friends to arrive but during the wait, he checked on us several times to make sure that we were comfortable and taken care of. Once our party arrived, he took extra good care of us, despite of how busy it was. He checked on us regularly without overdoing it.
I ordered a carne asada quesadilla (my fave) and it was soooooo delicious! Oh. the carne asada was GOOD… so flavorful and tender. I can’t wait to have another one… I also ordered their cadillac margarita as suggested by one of the sweet waitresses that I had encountered at the bar. Oh… it was KILLER! Soooo good… and it was very large. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I did forget to mention that chips and salsa were served too. Great mariachi music played in the background. a very festive touch!
Now, I have been to their other 2 locations. Casa De Pico in La Mesa and Casa Guadalajara in Old Town. Both are «decent Mexican food restaurants» but they don’t compare to this location! This location has GREAT food, GREAT Service, GREAT atmosphere, and GREAT management! This was our first visit to this restaurant, and the manager came by and greeted us. He wanted to make sure that we were satisfied. A very nice touch. I live in East County, but I’ll drive to Carlsbad to frequent this establishment. The experience was JUST that GOOD! Looking forward to taking my daughter back next weekend.
Thanks for a wonderful Sunday evening Casa De Bandini. You are Top notch in my book!

WOW WOW WOW WOW WOW! THUMBS UP FOR THIS PLACE. If you plan on visiting the Carlsbad area, this place is an absolute must. The wait time can be long but it’s seriously so worth it. We were quoted 45mins however they texted us after 30minutes. The indoor and outdoor area is very beautiful, I loved the décor. Service was good can be busy and don’t expect the best service especially on a Friday night. They even have a live mariachi band which plays music at your request, they sang Happy Birthday to my son and they even sang Spiderman haha it was pretty catchy I’m still singing it. Spiderman, Spiderman, Spiderman, haha.
The chips and salsa are good pretty addicting, I didn’t love the salsa it would be nice if they had a pico de gallo salsa as that’s my favorite but the other salsa was good too. The chicken fajitas were AMAZING! By far the best chicken fajitas I’ve ever tried. Normally at other places they have the caramelized onions, bellpeppers, etc. Here I don’t know what kind of seasoning they used but all I can say it was DAMN GOOD! The food came out super fresh and sizzling. My husband enjoyed his shrimp entrée as well.
All in all we were pleased with the food I loved the restaurant and I will make sure to come back and try something else. The food does not disappoint and everything here looks sooo good!

This is going to be a weird one…
I HATE big chain-​type restaurants. HATE them with a capital «H». I avoid them at any and all costs. Bandini reminds me very much of a big chain, because of the «replicated authenticity» of the place. It’s huge, and new, but everything is made to bring you to some overly seasoned replica of a stereotypical version of a Mexican cantina.
We used to go to Casa de Bandini when we lived in Mission Valley and Old Town was but a stones throw. I have fond memories of that place even though they too catered to the tourist crowd. When they opened their location in Carlsbad, I got a knot in my stomach. We were being infiltrated, I thought! Right next to a Bucca De Beppo, no less! But as people visited us from out of town who wanted that «authentic Old Town experience», and it meant that I didn’t have to drive them down to the city, I was on board. And their reactions! Family, friends, and everyone in between, always has a blast here. Their drinks are deep and they aren’t afraid to ask if you’d like another. The food is tasty and generous. The service is fantastic… and I love that the mariachi band walks around and plays (albeit more stereotypical) mariachi music. It’s the blend of all these factors, that has me walking out of there satisfied and… happy. That’s it. Casa de Bandini makes me happy. I feel like at the end of «Green Eggs and Ham» where the main character goes around proclaiming how much he loves his new discovery.
I will always choose something smaller and lesser known before I default to restaurants like this when I’m by myself, but this place is my go-​to when someone from out of town wants that «authentic» San Diego experience. In this instance, Casa de Bandini has little competition.

I have not been to Casa de Bandini since it moved from Old Town many years ago. I miss the ambiance of it being in the middle of the historic park but the new location is very nice too. Parking was easy to find on a busy Saturday afternoon for lunch.
The décor inside the restaurant is beautiful. My mom and I sat in the bar area. Above the bar is a collection of star and antique lanterns. She ordered the Sauza Cadillac margarita. I ordered the Cabo Wabo margarita. Both were strong and delicious.
My mom and I decided to share some appetizers. We ordered the soft taco sampler and the queso fundido. The portions are substantially larger than expected. In the sampler, there were two carnitas and twocarne asada tacos. There was so much meat that we each could have had another taco. The quality and taste of our food was excellent. We also each got the albondigas. OMG so tasty. It was just as mouthwatering as I remembered it to be. Between the soup, queso and tacos, we had too much food. I was so full by the end of the meal.
Our waiter was nice and friendly. I think our service was quicker since we were in the bar area. I like that there are tvs to keep you entertained if you need a break from the chit chat.
Excellent food and booze — two fantastic incentives to return soon.

Despite being stalked by x-​spouse here while on a date… It hasn’t stopped me from coming back and enjoying their amazing bar, fresh food and super friendly servers. The scent of fresh tortillas, trickling fountains and ranchero music warms my heart and my tummy. Great place to bring family, friends and people who love to have a good time.
The parking over here can be tricky… So patience is necessary grasshopper.
Their Mexican chopped salad is mouthwatering, their carnitas will make your legs shake.

Gave this place another try and I’ve got to admit it was a whole different experience! We were seated in about 10 minutes, I was surprised because we had a party of 5 and were able to get a booth like we requested.
The service was fantastic! I think our servers name was Victor, but after two of their incredibly strong margaritas, I’m surprised I remembered my own name.
We were all happy with our food. We ordered nachos, shrimp tacos, taquitos and a kids size bean and cheese burrito plate.
Great food, drinks and service! This is why so many of my friends love this place and I’m happy I gave it another chance!

I love Casa de Bandini’s happy hour! I met two friends after work on a Thursday night and grabbed a table in the bar. It seems that I may have lucked into a table because the bar area stayed busy throughout our meal and it seemed that seating could be hard to come by.
During happy hour, which lasts until 7 PM, all the appetizers (except ceviche) are half price. At first, we were shocked at the regular prices for the food but once we saw the size of the plates, we understood. These are not tiny appetizers. We ordered the chicken quesadilla and chicken taquitos to split between the three of us girls and we each took him enough for another meal. Between the two, I preferred the quesadilla, simply because it was less greasy than the taquitos, which is to be expected since they’re deep-​fried. The quesadilla is served with sour cream and guacamole on the side too.
My favorite part of the meal was the three dip appetizer, which included queso, guacamole and bean dip. While I don’t like beans in general and skipped that bowl, I loved the queso and the guacamole. Combine that with the chips and salsa and I probably could have satisfied my craving for Mexican food with just that. I can never get enough queso in my life!
Only one of the girls ordered a margarita, although I was tempted. My friend was less than impressed with her house on the rocks margarita but I’ve tried the flavored blended margaritas at Casa Sol y Mar, the sister restaurant to Casa de Bandini, and they’re great. I think these would likely be very similar.
All in all, our bill for three apps and a margarita came to $ 24 before tip. Not a bad deal at all!

I’ve been eating here since the day I moved to Carlsbad. It’s one of my go too places for Mexican (quality) in the area.
— Always a great meal
— Friendly service
— Inside and outside (patio) dining
— Very authentic Mexican cuisine
— Good prices considering the high quality of the food
My only off experience here was when I brought my dogs one time and sat on the front patio. Without going into too much detail, the manager came over and scolded me for giving my dog a piece of food which I she said was against the health code? Not sure how that works I see places put bowls of water and what not out for dogs all the time. Regardless ~ I don’t bring my dogs here anymore but I still enjoy coming back lunch or dinner.
They have lots of specials and seasonal menus in addition to their regular menu.

July: The only reason why we came here was because we got a gift certificate. The service was great and tentative.
We sat at a booth and it was a good size for two people. We started with margaritas and it was super sweet. We didn’t finish it at all. Our appetizer was the ceviche, I didn’t like it as I felt the flavors were lacking although there was plenty of shrimps and they surely did not skimp.
Our entrees were huge! The fajitas del mar was a seafood dish and well I was hoping for big scallops but they were tiny ones. I was disappointed but then though it’s okay if it’s the small ones but there were hardly any. They definitely had loads and loads of shrimp but the other seafood seem to be not there as well. The lack of seafood from a seafood dish was disappointing, but I guess if you love shrimp you will be happy.
Chile Verde was good. The carnitas were perfectly cooked with lots of flavors on its own and with the added chile verde. Who doesn’t love tender and juicy meat?
I was pretty torn about the what to rate this place. In the end I’ll stick to 3 stars as it was an okay overall meal. A bit pricey, but at the same time if we shared it would have been alright. The environment seemed fun and lively but I guess the disappointment in the margarita, the del mar and the ceviche leaves me to say sorry 3 stars for now.
Oddly although it’s only a 3 for me I can see why it’s a 4 for some. May have to come back and try some other stuff and maybe our drink next time will taste like a margarita and not just a sugar drink.
adiós.

Aye, Yai, Ya, Yai ~
I love the Casa Bandini…
I love burritos and tacos,
I love them I do…
Beef, pork, chile peppers,
I eat dem with you.
Aye, Yai, Ya, Yai ~
I’m a Mari~achi singer…
I wear a sombrero,
And love what I do…
Sing Mexican songs,
For a buck or a few.
Aye, Yai, Ya, Yai ~
I work at the Casa Bandini…
I bring home some pesos
To my Lucy who’s true…
If I don’t make enough,
Its not me who’ll be screwed.
Aye, Yai, Ya, Yai ~
Come to the Casa Bandini…
You can sit on the out-​side,
Have a drink, maybe two…
Munch on some corn chips,
I steal dem from you.
Aye, Yai, Ya, Yai ~ …

Food: chips and salsa are complimentary. Chips are fresh and salsa has very good flavor. I ordered the beef chimichanga. It comes with fresh crisp lettuce, pico de gallo, and sour cream on the side. This is a very large serving and is really good too. You can choose chicken or beef and they pile it in. The sauce and cheese they pour on top is perfect. My wife ordered a carne Assad salad and there was barely any meat on this, so do not order this.
Service: we had great service the night we went. Food didn’t take forever to come out. Plates were cleared quickly. Drink refilled promptly. Servers are dressed in Mexican dresses which is kind of cool.
Parking: lot is always packed. Better off parking far and walking. The shopping center has music playing throughout it. You won’t have a problem finding a spot somewhere in the lot.
Atmosphere: authentic Mexican colors everywhere. They have cool looking décor all throughout the place. They have a mariachi band that goes around and plays short songs throughout the restaurant. They have lots of tables inside and out. Cool lighting for outside seating. It is a little loud here but fun to look around at everything.

Casa de Salt.