La Casa Del Tamal
He said:
The oft-forgotten holiday, Boxing Day, may not seem important, but as Christmas fell on a Sunday this year, Boxing Day became the official day-off for most. We found that many people apparently chose to celebrate their holiday by going to La Casa Del Tamal. Kathy wondered if we should stay and wait for a table, but the size of the crowd—and its implied endorsement of the restaurant—convinced me that we had made the right choice.
Indeed, our wait lasted less than the predicted twenty minutes. We took seats in a small waiting area near the to-go counter, from which vantage we could survey the dining area. We watched as the staff efficiently tended to each customer, refreshed the tables, and welcomed new guests. They quickly tamed the seemingly endless stream of hungry patrons.
The dining area consisted of a single room filled with tables. No labyrinthine rows of booths, nooks, and separate recesses. The single room was modestly and unpretentiously decorated. The majority of the décor came from a single accent wall on which colored lights slowly blinked behind a dozen dried nopal pads.
We scanned a QR code to fetch menus on our phones. While this is convenient (I guess), we did discover one downside to this process. Kathy was still scrolling through the menu selections when the waiter came to take our drink order. She ended up ordering a diet cola before realizing that they also had Diet Dr. Pepper, which she prefers. Another problem with the menu is that it was so extensive! (That’s not really a problem, but how was I to choose from so many options?)
I want to say that La Casa Del Tamal tends toward the more authentic side of Mexican cuisine, but how would I know? What I can say is that it offered much more than the typical Tex-Mex offerings that we commonly find. La Casa Del Tamal offers of variety of Tamales, naturally, that they claim are the best in the Utah. They also offer a number of Caldos (soup), Huaraches (a masa dough with beans, smothered in meat, salsa, lettuce, and sour cream), Sopes (a masa tostada topped in similar fashion to the Huaraches), Gorditas (a sort of corn-tortilla sandwich), Tortas (another type of sandwich), and much more. After all that, I selected the more typical Tex-Mex offering: Fajitas with Carne Asada.
Our food came far more quickly than we had anticipated, another sign of their efficiency. My fajita came with corn tortillas in a colorful, woven tortilla basket (they hadn’t asked what kind I wanted, so I don’t know if they even had flour tortillas). The rest arrived on an iron skillet, which at first made the portion look small. However, that impression was deceptive, as the dish successfully resisted all my efforts to empty it. The fajitas were flavorful as well as colorful, but they lacked the strong lime flavor I enjoy. Instead, it had an unusual sauce that mixed with the melted cheese—which oddly sat at the bottom of the dish—in a way that, while not bad, didn’t excite my tastes.
She said:
La Casa Del Tamal is tucked away in a strip mall, but don’t let that dissuade you from giving it a try. This restaurant is surprisingly lovely and welcoming with its hip, modern décor. It isn’t a typical—or stereotypical—Mexican joint. The black granite-topped tables and counter seating are sophisticated. The gray woodgrain floors soften the effects of the stone, as do the contemporary pendant light fixtures. Peppy Latin music played in the background.
Though I was initially intimidated by the number of people waiting for tables, Brian convinced me to stay. I’m glad we decided to wait because the quality of the food was worth it. I ordered a trio of Gorditas: one with steak and two with pulled pork. They were nicely seasoned and delicious, especially the pork gorditas with their cilantro and pineapple filling. The flavors and textures were very pleasing, indeed.
As Brian mentioned, we judged this restaurant as being a popular place. From all appearances, it does a robust business, and the waitstaff are gracious and efficient. While we waited for our table, I couldn’t help being amused by how the hostess kept diplomatically trying to get a large party to move along. The bill had already been paid and the leftovers boxed, yet the diners lingered. The hostess first asked if they needed anything more. She returned, offering to clear used dishes. Again she returned, this time to ask if they needed any bags to carry their left-over boxes. Finally, the party took the hints and moved along. Kudos to the hostess for keeping everyone happy!
As a final aside: I really wished I’d noticed that Diet Dr. Pepper was on the menu. That would have made my meal perfect.
Conclusion:
We enjoyed all aspects of our lunch at La Casa Del Tamal. They offered a wide variety of selections, leaning toward authentic dishes. The food was excellently prepared and served in a pleasant environment by friendly, efficient staff.