An absolute favorite. The food is consistently good, often locally sourced, and the bloody Mary's are the best in town. A great spot for music and dancing, as well. read more

DO NOT eat here if you are gluten free. Im always are super careful because me and my boyfriend have a food allergy. Several times now we have gotten extremely sick from dishes here. We've even had to go to the bathroom and throw up seconds after completing a meal because the server came and said that what we were eating didn't get rang up with our food allergy specifications or had gotten a random ingredient thrown in that wasn't listed that contains gluten. The response we get is a short "sorry" or "let me get you a food credit card for next time". We mention multiple times during ordering and also while being served if the items are gluten free and always get a "yes" "of course" only to discover that the kitchen made it wrong or they didn't type in the correct thing or even bother to read the instructions. This is completely unfair and not right. Also have gotten takeout and overheard some comments being made that were unprofessional and rude towards patrons. I understand mistakes happen but I will not be planning on going back ever cause I just can't risk getting seriously ill because the staff doesn't care enough to run a proper business or care about those they are serving. read more

Just returned to this long time favorite. This time as we dropped off our new Bobcat. Absolutey fantastic. Love it.

Food is always very good, and has a unique spin! Service however is consistently slow, so as long as you're not going into dinner expecting a quick bite, you should be fine! The cantina waiting area is also really fun, featuring live music and trivia some nights! read more

I eat Peabody with a farm fresh egg often for breakfast, eat out here quite a bit, think their margaritas are the best, see a bunch of shows here, and wear one of their shirts... Enough said... read more

I love Casa! As someone who went to OU I grew to love Casa and their local spin on Mexican food. I like to variety that the restaurant uses in their dishes and the care the staff takes in the prep. I usually cone back to Casa every time I'm in Athens because I miss the feel. read more

Their layered dip is delicious; the rest of the food is as well. If you're the bloody mary type, they will clear your sinus from years of congestion if you're willing to shock your buds with that typa spice. Good atmosphere with plenty amazing bands/artists/djs that come around and perform. Casa is truly a special place read more

First of all, the food at the Casa is delicious. My wife loves their food, but perhaps a little (ok, a lot) more than I do. I'd only complain that the service is slow and sometimes inconsistent, and the middle room at the Casa is very loud... the cacophony of people chatting almost invariably gives me a headache. But, on the other hand, the food is delicious, and cheap, and generally comes from local sources. So if eating out is a social thing for you, the Casa is perfect in every way. But if you are looking for a nice quiet meal and have an appointment in an hour, maybe check elsewhere. read more

I cannot recommend Casa Nueva highly enough. The service is prompt and friendly, the atmosphere is fun and energetic, and the food is consistently delicious. No matter what I try I have never had a bad meal at Casa Nueva. One of the many wonderful features of this restaurant is that it is a worker owned co-op so the employees have a say in the workings of a restaurant and they are paid a living wage, which means that Casa is a no tipping establishment. Prices are a little higher, but you can feel good knowing that servers and kitchen staff can support themselves on the money they make. Also, any tip you do decide leave go straight to a local charity as voted on by the workers. read more

(Bar review) Casa is my bar of choice! It gets an older crowd more college graduates than anything but it can be pretty mixed. They have really enjoyable theme nights my favorite is 80's dance. Open mike is also a fun thing to check out, really talented people like to stop by. Some of the best mixed drinks in athens are made at casa. They have huge variety of infused vodkas, Ginger is my favorite. This is a great place to grab a drink check out there calendar for different deals they do! Btw they don't accept tips. read more

Im clueless as to why people are rating this place with 5 stars. Don't waste your time or money. Drinks were okay, but food was terrible. Service was just as bad. We love visiting Athens but this place was a real let down. We went here based on reviews and didn't even eat half of our dinner it was that bad. read more

What a joke! Stopped into have lunch on Saturday. Fully half the tables were empty. We were told a party of two would have to wait 1 hour. Really? Look elsewhere. read more

Beyond shocked that this place has as good as ratings as it does. Food was meh and service was just embarrassing. If I managed this place they'd all be fired. Not caring about being prompt is one thing because you aren't given tips, but simply being rude just for the sake of being rude is not excusable. The hostess, bartender and server were all extremely unpleasant human beings. Don't recommend. Won't be back. read more

Good selection of drafts. I loved the wide selection of salsas- we tried two of them and both were great! Food was delicious and a lot of veggie options. Would definitely recommend! read more

Do not come here if you are hungry. We came in when it wasn't busy. Still took 30 mins to get seated. Then another 40 to get our order. We contemplated leaving. We came so close to leaving. But we decided, "Hey, we're here. Food has to come out eventually, right?". So we stuck it out. This was the okayest meal ever. Wasn't bad, nothing remarkable. Just whelmed. read more

This is a very good Mexican restaurant, it won't break the bank. It also has a lot of vegetarian food. It is nice to go somewhere where there's not all meat products. Overall, it is very good. They have a lot of beers and wines to choose from. But it does get a little crowded at times. read more

Good service, great food, and many local products read more

Casa Nueva - Mexican Near Me - Athens, Ohio

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I brought in a wild mushroom dish as my audition. They were too chicken-shit. I'd already eaten some, mushroom poisoning is fast, ain't it? Another day I ordered guac & chips and got no comp red salsa. 1 star off. read more

Creative healthy menu ideas, but not traditional Mexican at all. Example: Butter squash enchiladas. Chips are NOT free and many menu items are not available till after 5pm. Expensive-Two enchiladas will cost you $16. We didn't stay. read more

The absolute best Mexican food in the Athens area-- all of it is fresh and local. The employees are what make the atmosphere, they are very welcoming and unique. read more

This is an update from my negative review of three weeks ago. Dinner last night checked all the boxes. We arrived a little after 5p & were able to seat ourselves. Ordered a margarita & chips & guac. Both were quite delicious as was the two layer stacked enchilada with chicken & veggies of the day-leeks, and roasted red chile and garlic salsa baked on top. Service was more than adequate. Glad we gave Casa another chance! A unique and special treat when visiting Athens. read more

This place gets 2 stars only because I only went once so I feel like I would need a second visit to be sure of my assessment of it. However, because I don't think I ever plan to visit it again (being that I don't live in the area and the likeliness of returning are slim to nil), i'll just keep it at 2 and move on. When I got to Athens, I suddenly got a hankering for Mexican food. I'm not sure why. Possibly because I had just been in NYC and Pittsburgh and each place had their fair share of decent/good cuisine. But regardless, I am a huge fan of Mexican food. Now, my friend WARNED me not to go here. But being the stubborn person I am, I shrugged off his warning and decided to hit up Casa anyway. After all, they had free WiFi and I needed to get a meal while doing some work. I went in and was seated in a small booth and then handed a menu. This menu certainly had a lot of options, but none that could be considered cheap. I decided that because the food is supposed to be locally grown and it's a co-op and all, that I should suck it up and support this local supposed "gem" of a restaurant. I ordered the Huevos Rancheros and inquired about their Appalachian Tea, as i'd never heard of such a thing and was always open to trying new local items. "It sucks. Don't get it. Seriously, really bad," said the long haired boy with the permanent scowl who happened to be my server. "Oh... okay," and I proceeded to keep sipping my plain water instead. I can certainly appreciate some honesty here and there, but bluntness like that would probably get you fired at most establishments. At the very least, it doesn't reflect very well on the restaurant. If it's so bad, why do they keep it? Or couldn't he at least make a better recommendation or ask me what kind of beverage I was in the mood for? Eh, but that might be too much work and this guy didn't seem like he was too excited to be employed anyway. A while later, he brings me a plate that immediately has me bewildered. At first, I thought he brought me some sort of salad. And then I realize it's my Huevos Rancheros. 2 sunny side up eggs served on top of two corn tortillas, covered in red sauce with shredded carrots and lettuce. Carrots. And lettuce. Alright, I said to myself, i'll keep an open mind. I've never seen carrots and lettuce on eggs like this before, but I figured why not. I guess I can't say it took away from the meal, but it certainly didn't add. The eggs were, well, eggs. Bland as bland can be. What was really killing me though was the "salsa" or red sauce that they had. No spice. Not even a little. Hell, sprinkle some pepper on it at least or add a drop of tabasco! Nope. It was like having runny eggs with bland spaghetti sauce and some shredded lettuce. I tried to make the best of it, but the let down was too deep. I was really hoping for some authentic tasting Mexican, or at least a pleasant variation. My server came back two times to see if I was done so he could take my plate, to which I would respond no, since it was obvious I was still eating. I didn't realize til later that he was actually in a hurry. Apparently they were closing up my section for the afternoon, though the rest of the establishment would remain open. My question is why would they seat me there knowing full well they'd have to rush me and shove me to the other side of the restaurant? Poor planning, for sure. As a former restaurant hostess, I can attest to just how much that would NOT fly at most joints. Before I was even finished, he dropped the bill on my table and when I was on my last bite, he came back eagerly awaiting payment. Instead, I asked for a coffee. He looked frustrated but thems the breaks I guess. He brought my coffee (nothing impressive, surprising to me since I had been sipping on nothing but pretty tasty coffee throughout Athens) and asked if I could pay him already because they were closing that section and he had to go. I obliged, not really annoyed at their closing but at not being informed earlier. I gave him the cash and on the plus, he didn't (remember to) charge me for the coffee. I don't know what it is that the kids of OU see in this joint. Maybe their other meals are better. Maybe scowly faced server isn't always there. Maybe, like another Yelper mentioned, they're just always too drunk to notice/care. Point is, if I ever find myself back in Athens, I will not be visiting Casa for another overpriced meal. I might, however, be inclined to get a drink, but then I'm also a lot less picky about where I get my beer. read more

Having dinner (I guess lunch because we asked if we could order dinner at 4:50pm and were declined. It's not 5 yet!). Now 520 so 30 minute wait so far for our food and it's not busy. Ordered medium salsa and chips for appetizer. The salsa was very mild and frankly weak by my standards. Chips are thick (not my style either). Also an incredibly small portion for $5. Most places offer chips and salsa for free! We have ordered soft tacos and enchiladas. One person liked her chicken enchilada commenting "very fresh". She ordered rice and beans side. Literally white rice (no seasoning whatsoever). The other enchilada ordered said so so. My tacos were ok. Side of refried beans stone cold. Also they don't take tips and it's built into the food and beverage prices. So so food, below average service and longer wait than normal for our order. Not recommended. read more

Casa is an Athens institution, but it is also one of the few places in the area that you will find food that is creative, fresh, local, and (most important) fantastic. When I went to OU, this place introduced me to food that was not 'Olive Garden' and turned me on to quality vegetarian cooking. For that, it gets max stars. It's is not for everyone. There are people who go to Casa and expect it to be authentic Mexican food, or expect it to be Chili's. There are people who don't like menus that change with the season. There are people who don't like places that aren't standard chains. These people usually don't like Casa- and that is fine. The vibe here isn't for everyone. But you owe it to yourself to check it out. Casa is unique. I've lived all over the US, but I have never found their take on 'Mexican' replicated anywhere else. It's very hard to describe it. So I'll just say that it is really good. Their sauces are incredible, their burritos are dynamite. The hearth baked tortillas are perfection. Fall Seasonal Burrito or the Casa Quesadilla were my go-tos (or To the Hills when I was poor that week). Although it's a great spot for a vegetarian, their meat options always got the thumbs up from my friends. The drink selection is great, too. Bodega was always a nice place to chill with friends, loved the live music. I had my first drink here, when I turned 21. A lot classier than some other options in Athens, and good for dates. Yeah, the wait times are long and the service is hit or miss. Honestly, a lot of local restaurants are like that. I don't mind, I'm there for the food. And looking back, those wait times were spent getting to know my (now) husband, or seeing my parents while they were visiting. Times that I am grateful for, years later. So.. will you like Casa? I can't say, because it just comes down to who you are. But give it a shot. You might end up like me. I mostly loved Casa, sometimes it infuriated me, but it is one of the few things that I still smile about. We went back, years later and thought, 'no way this place will be as good as when we were 20.' Yeah, it totally was. read more

What a great little place to go for lunch. There were a ton of veggie options on the menu and the staff was super friendly. Another plus is that they serve breakfast all day (or at least I think they do - they gave me a breakfast menu at 1pm). I had a grilled cheese like none I've ever had - it had roasted tomatoes and hot peppers on it and a sweet and sour tofu soup that made my sore throat feel all better. I also loved the choice of salsas. There was so much on this menu it was hard to choose - I highly recommend giving this place a shot. read more

NOT WORTH THE WAIT. We waited 90 minutes, then sat down and our server didn't come over for at least another 15 minutes. If you want chips and salsa, they are extra and they're just chips from a grocery store. When our food arrived, one of the orders was wrong and the chicken was dry and apparently dark meat. I had ground beef tacos and the ground beef was so spicy I almost gagged. When our friend's corrected order finally came, the server did offer to take off a few dollars for the late order. Needless to say, we won't be back. Don't waste your time! read more

Literally amazing. Dinner platter, burritos, nachos, salads, everything is good!! And you don't leave feeling gross lost Mexican food after

So whenever we're in Athens, we go here for dinner. I always get the stacked enchilada with habanero salsa. I'm always pretty happy with that. But, due to extenuating circumstances, I chose to have a taco last night instead, as I didn't feel hungry enough to order the other. For $5 a little taco sauce or salsa would be appropriate. Not charge me an extra $2 for salsa. The taco isn't a great deal bigger than a Taco Bell taco, and costs more than twice as much. Stop being stingy. It would not cost that much to give someone a little something to make your average taco something other than a dry unpleasant experience. read more

Came in with 6 other people for lunch. With exactly 5 other people in the resturant spread at two tables it took nearly 2 hours for us to be served burritos. The burritos were baked to the plate. My tortilla was mostly inedible because it was so crunchy and over cooked it couldnt be chewed or cut with a knife. The burritos were loaded with delicious meat, but I wanted a burrito, not meat in an inedible vessle. read more

AMAZING little place in athens, ohio. everything we ordered was great - salad and stacked enchiladas. great spice level. drinks from the bar were fantastic. amazingly friendly service from our server. it's a cooperative restaurant, so no tipping. can't wait to go back!! read more

I have been going to Casa for 25+ years. Here's what it is: it is a social gathering place catering to long-time townies and the older college crowd; with good drinks, fresh but uninteresting food, terrible service (rude and downright ignorant waitstaff and managers) and the most unorganized billing you will ever experience. They operate in a niche that they own, and feel no need to try to improve anything. They have no idea how bad their service and billing is, as they are in the hothouse of Athens, Ohio, and have never had training; competition has never forced improvement, and they really have no knowledge of possible comparisons. If you accept it for what it is, you will probably have a good time. If you go with the expectation of receiving the type of service that you would get in a more competitive environment, you will be disappointed. That's it... read more

Thanks in no small part to the Ohio University, Athens has blossomed into one of the state's most respectable beer-drinking burgs. The best place to order a cold one is at the lively Casa Nueva Restaurant, Cantina & Bodega. Students and locals flock here to enjoy daily specials that highlight beers from around the state and beyond. The Ohio-centric draft beer selection includes seasonal specialties from Buckeye Brewing, Great Lakes Brewing, Marietta Brewing, and Athens-based Jackie-O's. For a uniquely potent potable, sample the pawpaw wheat, an Ohio-brewed beer made from locally harvested fruits. read more

I have been a huge fan of Casa ever since I was an OU undergrad student in the early '90's. I loved & supported the cooperative employee philosophy and the delicious food & refreshing margaritas. Everything served is consistently fresh and sourced through local farms with adequate portions. The laid back ambiance fits my style. While in town for a campus visit, I made sure to stop in for an early dinner with the family. The Cantina offered a limited menu & self-service since we arrived prior to the main restaurant opening; the ordering process was a bit awkward but the food did not disappoint. An accoustic singer was preparing to take the stage when we were wrapping up our dinner. Casa remains my #1 choice for dining options in Athens. So glad to see it's survived the decades & continues to thrive! read more

I've had varying experiences at Casa, mostly positive. The food isn't "traditional" Mexican by any means but I don't think they go out of their way to claim that it is. It's a unique blend and they do a pretty good job of giving fair warning / explanation of the "slow cooked" process. There's something to be said for taking your time and doing things "the right way" but with that said..sometimes a sitdown there can take way too long. My wife and I walked uptown and got breakfast a few weeks ago and it was perfect for us - no plans for a Sunday afternoon. We had to wait for 20 minutes for a table but they did have a brunch rush going on. The food took a while but it was worth it. My own experience is to gauge how much time I actually want to commit to a meal and decide if Casa is worth it; I walk through the doors and basically admit to myself that I'm on their time frame. That works for some people; others notsomuch. I've had not great experiences in the Cantina (bar side), mainly with pretentious bartenders. The last one prompted a three page letter to the "owners" - which yes, is everyone. And I will say that I received a prompt reply, an honest apology, and a gift certificate encouraging a return. We did and since then, I've honestly had pretty good experiences. I know it wasn't my letter alone but maybe things were coming to a head and they decided to address it. I now get service with eye contact, an occasional smile, and at the very least..leaving with a feeling that my business is appreciated. We usually get the salsa sampler if we're killing time waiting for a table. I like that you can start your tab at the bar and when your table comes up there's not so mad rush to cash out - they are more than accommodating in regards to transferring everything to your table. Small sidebar - the fine Casa folks usually set up at the Athens Farmers Market, perchance you want to pick up some of their guac, salsa, etc... while browsing the market. read more

All of my reviews are solely intended for visitors seeking vegetarian, vegan, and, (my preference), plant based, whole foods. As most of the reviews indicate, this is an Athen's institution, and a huge family favorite. Here are the tips to know before you go: -There are always several vegan, whole foods choices. -This is not typical Mexican Food. If that's what you're craving, you might be disappointed. If you're open to new tastes, this might become a new favorite -There is often a wait, but usually no more than 20-30 minutes. -I usually don't buy wine by the glass here. While they often have interesting choices, I think the combination of a small glass and price is ($6-7) makes it a little pricey. Stick with a great choice of beers, or buy a bottle and share. -There's no tipping. It's built into the menu pricing. -No table service in the bar. Order from a bartender and pick it up from a window at the kitchen when your number is posted on what looks like a Keno board. -Parking can be a challenge in uptown Athens when school is in session. Bring change for street meters. There is a multi level city parking lot near Washington and Court. I usually drop off the family and can find a spot along the street if I'm willing to go around the block a couple times. read more

Casa's food is great, but whenever I go there I always end up thinking I could have just cooked this at home and saved money. While the bill is already a bit pricey you have to remember that the tip is included. It's a great atmosphere to get a few drinks with friends. In fact, the drink menu is probably the best reason to go there. Casa utilizes local ingredients in both food and alcoholic concoctions. Their infused vodkas are the talk of the town. read more

I'm not sure if I went on a bad day or what, I have had a bad experience from the beginning until I left the place. As soon as I walk in with my family it took them 10 minutes to seat us with an almost near empty restaurant. After being seated, the waitress took about 15 minutes to come and ask for our drinks. We immediately placed our order for appetizer and main dish. After 40 minutes of waiting we've decided to ask the waitress where the appetizer was and she replied it will be out in two minutes after checking with the cook. The appetizer came out and it was the wrong order. We did not say anything and waited for the main dish. After I total of 50 minutes The main dish finally came out and it was burnt for both my wife and I. There was absolutely no flavor to the dish. It seems like the place is run by college students who don't really care about what they serve or what they do. read more

I used to live in Athens. Now I have to make special pilgrimages when I'm in town. Casa represents all that's good in this town. Local foods. Tasty, even if it's not very Mexican. And great cheap Margaritas. read more

Good food. Pretentious staff. Most of the bar tenders can't mix a drink to save their life.

Got here at 540pm, took until 715 to get food. On a Sunday. Food waaay overpriced for the portion size. Never never coming back. Don't waste your time, go get a pizza. Oh and they couldn't have cared less about the wait...they don't take tips. read more