Inspired by the iconic artist Frida Kahlo’s home in Mexico, restaurateur and chef Vicente Del Rio cooks up Mexican dishes in a vibrant setting at newly opened Casa Azul Cantina.Executive chefs Orlando Candanoza and Oswaldo Robles create dishes that feature fresh products and a diverse regional influences, making mouths water with such selections as aguachile de camarón—fresh shrimp marinated in a spicy lime Serrano sauce with onions, avocado, cilantro and cucumbers drizzled with extra-virgin olive oil. You can order fish, salmon or shrimp with your choice of sauce–three chilis, lemon butter, chipotle cream or garlic butter guajillo; while halibut carpaccio arrives in an alive oil-lime juice-soy sauce.
More traditional plates include tacos de rib eye, served with handmade corn tortillas and chiles toreados, and chicken mole poblano. We stopped in and sampled those, and also delighted in guacamole en Molcajete, prepared at our table, which we savored with a fresh El Diablo margarita.
Casa Azul’s cocktail program keeps to theme, offering a selection of freshly made margaritas and Mexican beer cocktails, as well as nearly 70 kinds of tequila.
Casa Azul also offers happy hour daily from 3-7 p.m. and 9-11 p.m. at their bar, which features a menu of specials on food such as tacos, enchiladas, nachos and drinks ranging from margaritas to martinis, beer and more.
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10853 Lindbrook Drive, Westwood, 310.209.0666. www.casaazulcantina.com