Napoleon just scored a new spot for tacos and huaraches. La Casita Mexican Grill quietly slipped into the plaza on Brooklyn Road east of Jackson in February, bringing a family-run Mexican kitchen and about 50 seats of cozy dining to the small town. The compact restaurant is turning out home-style plates like huaraches and a slow-marinated carne asada during lunch and dinner hours.
Family-run kitchen
Owners Maria Gonzalez and Antolin Gamez are running La Casita with several family members, and Antolin, who spent more than 23 years cooking at the Crazy Cowboy, is now behind the stove here, as reported by MLive. According to the outlet, the Gamez family opened La Casita in February, and the restaurant operates daily from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. The owners told the reporter they plan to add alcoholic beverages once licensing is finalized.
Where it sits
La Casita has taken over the former Crowes' Nest Café space at 6780 Brooklyn Road in Napoleon, and the Crowes' Nest Café site lists that same address. The building has seen several small eateries cycle through in recent years, and the new restaurant is aiming to become a low-key lunch and dinner stop for locals and for drivers rolling along M-50.
Menu highlights
The menu stays pretty traditional. MLive describes the huaraches as a pita-like flatbread topped with beans, cheese, onion, cilantro and sour cream, and Antolin points diners toward the campechano, a combo of steak and chorizo. The carne asada plate is listed at $19.99 and, according to the owners, is marinated for at least 12 hours before it hits the grill. Guests can expect a modest, family-run dining room to start, plus carryout service.
For folks east of Jackson who want straightforward, made-from-scratch Mexican plates, La Casita offers a locally run alternative to chain restaurants and quick pickup spots on the highway.
