The latest addition to my Roatan Review series is: La Casita!
I was really bummed when one of my fave restaurants, Bay Islands Original Cafe, closed just a few months after I did a review. Such is life on Roatan though - as people come and go, so do businesses.
After a couple months, I found out two of my friends had taken over the space and had something really special planned for it. Slowly but surely, La Casita was born.
Alejandra and Andres have created a zen little oasis just a few minutes' walk out of the town of West End (bonus: you get to walk by a horse pen, and they're always out near the road). La Casita ('The Little House' in Spanish) has been revamped into a Pinterest-worthy space perfect for hanging out with your friends - and eating some AMAZING food.
The food at La Casita is fresh and healthy, which is not always an easy thing to find here on Roatan. The menu changes depending on what they have available, but it focuses on build-your-own gourmet sandwiches, flatbreads, soups, and salads. They also have ceviche every Saturday! My favorite is the roast beef sandwich (the beef is made in-house), but their changing daily soups are also always a winner for me.
Alejandra and Andres are warm and welcoming, and clearly enjoy what they do here. The food is made with love, and it shows! The wifi is fast, and there's board games to play. I was also really happy when the fan got installed in the seating area - keeps bugs away and keeps you cool while you eat in the hot Caribbean weather. The different iced teas on offer are a fabulous way to cool down as well.
The inside also features a tiny ethnic grocery store, which has been the source of some fantastic hard-to-find items for me! I find something new every time I go.
In short, I love everything about La Casita. The atmosphere is calm and relaxing, the food and drinks are fresh and healthy, the owners are friendly and it's a great place to spend an afternoon. Go and thank me later!
What you need to know:
- reservations aren't necessary unless you're coming out with a huge group, but it's always a good idea to call first and make sure they're open before trekking out of West End. A lot of times on Roatan, posted operating hours are a guideline and not a rule! Generally this place is open for lunch, and into the early evening.
- follow them on Facebook to get all the updates on menu specials and changes, plus contact info for delivery if you're really hungover (is there any other reason for delivery here?)
- different days have different themes (Asian food on Thursdays, ceviche on Saturday, etc.) so if you've got a particular hankering, watch the calendar.
- please remember that tips are always appreciated by service staff on the island. If you plan on paying cash for tips (or anything else on Roatan) please bring new bills if you want to use USD - our banks here will not accept ripped, old or written-on US bills, which in turn means the businesses here won't accept them either.
- make sure to let them know Rika sent you :)
Rika's Rating: I eat here like once a week, this is one of my favorite restaurants. It should be yours too!
I have paid for all my meals at La Casita, although Ale + Andres will often sneak me a bag of my beloved Veggie Sticks just because they know they're my favorite snack. No matter who is paying the tab, rest assured that you'll always get an honest review here!
Guys, make sure to follow me on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter ... there's lots of extras posted there that don't make it onto the blog. I also have Google+ if anyone even uses that? And I'm on Bloglovin', so you can follow me there too! Plus it makes me try to post more than once a month. So there's that.