Las Cazuelitas Central

4÷23÷2011
I just had dinner at the Las Cazuelitas on Ft Lowell where DaVinci’s used to be and I just had THE BEST Mexican food in Tucson. The presentation was suberb and the service was impeccable. I enjoyed the Shrimp stuffed with Cheese and wrapped in Bacon and it was out of this world. It was an honor to experience this type of food in Tucson and we will definitely be going back!

Ugh, I hate not writing a nice review. Honestly, I hate it because I usually can just not write at all. So here goes, my daughter and I came here Friday night to have a mother and daughter night. The place was pretty much empty with one other table. The waiter brought us stale chips and salsa. The salsa is spicy and decent however my daughter ordered the camarones mole de ajo. Have no idea if that is exactly it. The mushrooms were a slimy mess the retried beans were mealy, who knew beans can be mealy. Now the rice something else, honestly people I am embarrassed to even type this, the rice was crunchy… seriously. Oy, it was unfortunate. I ordered the Carne asada tacos they were greasy.
We won’t be going a next time, I would’ve preferred going to a taco truck. Oh well you live and you learn.

Well here it is. My first, 1^st review. I’m a little nervous but being the first is exciting… I’m not sure that a full 4 stars is warranted, but at the same time 3 stars seems too little.
When you pull in to the parking lot you may notice the secuirty guard. Be brave and forge on. I’m not sure it’s necessary and suspect that a family member needs a job. Currently the name on the building is Las Cazuelitas. That name has changed at least 2x in the last year but has come full circle back to Las Cazuelitas. I’ve been under each name change and didn’t notice a change in the staff or food.
Let’s get the unpleasantness out of the way first. The décor is bad. The abundance of murals and faux paint is cheesy, bordering on garish. Then you spot random paintings scattered about the walls that don’t fit with each other or the paint scheme. I suspect the interior is having an identity crisis. Just when you think your eyes may begin to bleed, you enter the main dining room and are greeted by a fountain, the kind you might find in a courtyard, and areas of real, potted plants. Take a deep breath and focus on these items during your meal.
So you may be wondering why I even come here… it’s the food. You won’t find nuevo Mexican or Mexico-​city style or anything other than good, home-​style food. The kind of food my husband’s hispanic Grandmother cooked. My favorite is the #3 combination — a shredded beef taco, shredded beef tamale, and cheese enchilada with rice and beans. Yummy! They have the usual fare of enchiladas, burros, tacos, etc. along with specialty dishes and a seafood menu. I must confess that I’ve never tried the seafood so I have no idea how it rates. The meats are tender and well cooked. The fajita veggies are tender-​crisp. The red sauce is excellent, and the beans are definitely NOT from a can.
The service is good. The wait staff typically stays on top of your chips, salsa and water. Even when busy, service is prompt and courteous. No complaints on this front.
In the mid-​town to east-​side area this is the best home-​cooked Mexican food you’ll find, unless you have a hispanic Grandmother.