My friend and I really loved our experience here! The food was amazing, our server was great, and the vibes were fantastic. It was a good sized crowd but we didn't have to wait to be seated and the food came at a reasonable pace. I was very pleased. We had the birria empanadas and the queso for starters. She had the half chicken, I had the branzino and we shares a side of rice and beans. The menu is a la cart and has a family/sharing vibe to it, so perfect for ppl who might want to order a few things and share! read more

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Located in the heart of downtown Decatur; this a nice new restaurant in the area. Sits on the corner of the street and when you walk in, it's very modernized. We were immediately seated and provided menus. I initially ordered the Smash the Basil drink but I didn't like it whatsoever. The waitress stated that it had a hint of mezcal but it appeared to overpower the entire drink. I then requested the Bee Word and it was prefect. For food, I ordered the Caesar salad and the mussels. The waitress brought me the empanadas out, forgetting that I ordered mussels and was comp'd the empanadas. As I was getting ready to leave, another waitress dropped a glass which made glass fly all over our table. Thankfully, no was injured. I would like to try this place again, maybe at a different time. read more

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Food delicious, atmosphere , went on a low key night and place is a vibe. I can appreciate a restaurant that shows they value their patrons. Juan gave suggestions, attentive, and food is a wave . What more can you ask for. Highly recommend read more

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Came for dinner and it was not super busy. We got seated immediately. The service was amazing from the moment you arrive. Our server was very nice and informative about the menu and gave us great recommendations. We got the pulpo, that came with an amazing spicy sauce and also fresh beets that were so sweet. The empanadas were packed with flavor ! The fish tacos were also really good, fried perfectly and not too oily. The salsa was also the perfect spice. The Al pastor was so flavorful and perfectly grilled. We also got the chocolate cheesecake and the cherry syrup was perfectly tart and sweet, an amazing combination with the rich chocolate cake. Overall, can't wait to be back read more

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It's been awhile since we dined at Casa Balam and I'm happy to report they have won us over! We booked reservation on a Friday night for a date night. The ambiance was romantic. Since we last visited, the added a new tapas menu! We loved everything we ordered from it. We had the roasted potatoes, buffalo wings, and steak & ahi tuna tostadas. We'll definitely come back with friends & try more options off their tapas menu. read more

Casa Balam - Desserts Near Me - Decatur, Georgia

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Food was pretty good. We started with an appetizer epamadas de birria which was really good. For the main entrée we both got the steak.. 14 oz ribeye.. we ordered one medium and one medium rare. I got the frijoles charros and my best friend got pastelitos decided queso as the side. We also had the sticky toffee cake for dessert. It was really good. We also got 2 bourbon vacations which were ok. We were both hoping for more of the coconut flavor but we got more of the citrus flavor. The service was very good. The waiter was very attentive and checked on us just the right amount. He was pretty cool. The ambiance was pretty dope as well. Very modern Spanish restaurant. read more

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For starters, they have the RIGHT people working there. The hostess was so sweet and had such LIVE energy. Naturally you notice the beautiful decor once you walk in, but the greeting from the hostess definitely set the tone. My server's name was Adamari. LOVEDDDDDD her I hope I get her next time too! It was my first time there, so she helped me with making some choices on apps/drinks etc...(and was so patient about it too :) ) So for my drink, I ordered the Bourbon Vacation. Y'all omgggg. It was SOOOO good. It was Woodford Reserve Bourbon ( which is my personal fave), but it also had pineapple in it cuz I need to have a sweet kick to my drinks. While it was good it was strong, so if you are a lightweight like me, the one was enough lol! For my apps I ordered the Empanadas de Birria. TOOOO good. So good, that I was thinking of putting in another order and having it for dinner. I mean, everything was seasoned well, birria was nice and tender, deff ordering that again on the next visit. I also ordered the Brussel Sprouts, I liked the pickled onions on top, just would've like them a little crispier next time. For my entree I ordered the Tacos De Pescado Frito. I thought it was just ok, but honestly I think that's because my mind is always fixated on ordering a meat dish. So I will give that another try when I return. read more

Casa Balam - Desserts Near Me - Decatur, Georgia

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Casa Balam absolutely delivered a memorable dining experience. We started with the guacamole and 12 ostiones frescos--both incredibly fresh and flavorful. For our entrées, he had the 18 oz bone-in ribeye with bone marrow and broccolini, which was rich, tender, and perfectly cooked. I ordered the Cordero a la parrilla and was blown away by the bold, smoky flavor and how beautifully it was plated. From the atmosphere to the food, drinks, and attentive service--everything was impeccable. A true gem for anyone who appreciates elevated Latin-inspired cuisine with a luxurious twist. We'll definitely be back. read more

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I've wanted to visit Casa Balam after seeing an Instagram post and it didn't disappoint. This is an upscale Mexican restaurant with a unique spin on classic dishes. We had the queso for our appetizer. It was good, I didn't have chorizo in mine, but the mushrooms were a diff twist. I which it had more chilis mixed it, but it was good. We shared the Lubina al Miso and Birria. The birria was super tender, but my partner and I agreed the flavor could have been more robust. It was spicy but lacked the undertone of flavors like cinnamon that make Birria so good. The sea bass was an absolute stand out! It was flavorful, the fish was soft, seasoned well, and nessled on a bed of chickpeas, pinto beans, and whatever else was in there. My partner had a bourbon cocktail, which was also good. Although we didn't have dessert, (we were stuffed) the dessert options sound amazing, from sticky toffee to a corn tree leche! Our server was also nice, attentive, and gave good recommendations. read more

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A couple of girlfriends and I visited Casa Balam for dinner while I was visiting over the holidays. We made a reservation and were greeted and seated as soon as we arrived. The space is beautiful, love the decor. I tried the following: Espresso martini Coliflor al horno $17 Guacamole $15 Burrata and mangoes $16 Lubina al miso $39 The espresso martini was wonderful. The apps, coliflor al horno, and guacamole were fresh and flavorful. I wasn't sure I would like the burrata and mango combo in the salad, but I quite enjoyed it. I also enjoyed the textures in the salad. For my entree, I opted for the lubina al miso, which features a Chilean sea bass marinated in miso with snap peas, fire roasted salsa, epazote and orange glaze, and chickpeas. Even though it wasn't bad and the fish was cooked well, the whole entree was my least favorite. I felt like it was missing something. Service was fast and friendly, and we had a wonderful experience overall. Casa Balam is a great addition to downtown Decatur! read more

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Mesmerized by the beauty of this Upscale Mexican Cuisine located in Downtown Decatur. The vibes & aesthetic @ Casa Balam is everything! There's free parking at Artisan Garage right next to the restaurant. We went here for Sunday's Brunch Date & service was great! The award goes to "Corn Tres Leches" One of the most unique & best desserts I've had so far. Great place for brunch date, GNO, date nights or any occasion really. I'll def be back soon to try other dishes & ofc can't miss the dessert lol :P read more

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Wow! Great addition to the downtown Decatur area. This ain't your grannies Ted Turner's Montana Grill anymore. Love the decor and that bar is fire. Great service and really good drinks. Sign of a good bartender is how well they make a Manhattan and they did it right. Good was off the chain (showing my age with that line). The Pulpo for and appetizer for 2 could have feed 3. The Branzino and the Halibut were cooked perfectly. Love a Mexican restaurant that know how to do fish. Oh we gon be back for sure. read more

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4.5/5 Great food, drinks & impeccable service. The elevated Mexican cuisine is delicious and the vibe is perfect for date night or girls night. Our server Odaleis was very knowledgeable and personable. The dishes we enjoyed most included the fried fish tacos, birria empanadas and branzino. Unfortunately, they were out of mussels, rice and for some reason my entree was not served with potatoes as listed, However my server got that adjusted on our check when I made her aware. Drinks were also tasty and strong, thanks to the bartender Tommy! read more

Casa Balam - Desserts Near Me - Decatur, Georgia

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We came here on a Saturday at noon. We did make a reservation, but we didn't need to because the restaurant wasn't full at all. There was plenty of seating. We were able to get one of the booth seats toward the back, with full view of the restaurant. We started with the birria empanadas. They were tasty, light and flaky. I preferred the green salsa with them but they, honestly, didn't need a salsa at all. The waiter was pretty quick with taking our drink and appetizer orders. For our entrees we ordered the eggnog French toast and my partner ordered the whole fish branzino. We were waiting for our food for 20-25 minutes before they brought it out. It was very slow service when as I stated, the restaurant wasn't packed or full at all. For about 15 minutes we watched as the kitchen put a lot of the finished food on the counter, but didn't take it out to the tables. There was literally food just sitting on the counter for 15 minutes. Why would you do that? This gives the opportunity for food to get cold. We actually contemplated just paying for our drinks and appetizer and leaving because they were so slow. Our waiter didn't even come back to us after she dropped off our second round of drinks, so we didn't see her or get an update from her for at least 20 minutes. When we were telling the waiter to bring our check for the appetizer and drinks, our food magically appeared. The branzino was hot; however, my French toast was on the cooler side because they just had it sitting on the counter getting cold. Though the French toast was cold, it bread was soft and it tasted pretty good. This wasn't worth the thirty minute drive. To get better, I would encourage the restaurant to increase the number of servers or deliver the food to the tables as it's ready so food won't get cold. Also the branzino (pescado rostizado) needed seasonings. Maybe salt and pepper, maybe something more. read more

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Parking is free if you park at The Artisan Garage, which does not require validation as mentioned by the hostess. The interior is beautiful, however, the ambiance does not align with its decor. The bright white lights make it more of a casual dining experience versus a more upscale vibe that I was expecting. I ordered the Empanadas de Pato and Tacos de Carne Asada. The empanadas were a bit dry and lacked flavor. The tacos were pretty good, but the bone marrow definitely elevated this dish. My overall experience was a 3.5 stars because the drinks and service were great. read more

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The restaurant was very beautiful and spacious. For a brand new restaurant, the service was on par and my group and I were taken care of. The waitress was informative and knew about the menu and checked on u regularly. The burrata was really creamy and yummy and paired really nicely with the peaches. ( I do wish there were more peaches just for ratio sake) - Their espresso martini was perfect. It was the right amount of alcohol to coffee. My friend and I shared the Birria and it was well seasoned and very tender. The tortillas were fresh and I def recommend it. Lastly, the Corn Tres Leches was SO GOOD. What the heck?! It wasn't TOO sweet and all the textures of the cake and mousse were perfect. I would come back here to try other items on their menu! read more

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Absolutely love this place. From the amazing decor inside, the cleanliness, the service, the drink & food quality .. one of my favorites places in downtown Decatur. read more

Not going to lie, this place wasn't my favorite. The service wasn't that great. We had two visibly pregnant women at our table and the waitress was extremely slow. I think this place is more "aesthetic" than anything. The food is nothing memorable but the mocktails were really delicious. I can't say I'd be back in a hurry but willing to give it another shot in the future if someone suggested it. read more

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This new Atlanta restaurant is GORGEOUS!!! I mean come on the vibe and the vibrancy of the dishes match perfectly. We took all our server's recommendations and they were each amazing. The service was great and I can tell this restaurant is truly going to thrive. If you need a date night or happy hour spot in Decatur this is the place!! read more

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Had such a great experience at Casa Balam. I have been excited from them to open up and they're finally here. A little late on the review but we visiting the day of their grand opening. Super glad to see they were pretty busy that day. The service was amazing. You could tell they were still trying to settle in and get their systems down but I thought they did a great job. And the food.... Oh my my! I loved the food. We ordered the duck empanadas, ceviche, and the Birria. Everything was delicious and fresh fresh fresh tasting. The interior is super cute. It looks modern and clean. Casa Balam is such a great addition to the Downtown Decatur. I definitely plan on being a regular here. read more

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The host and seating process were fine. Everyone was nice. We were looking forward to checking out the restaurant since it was announced. The menu was hit miss. Fried tortilla shells were stale. Had to ask for a fresh batch but then the following batch was stale again! Cocktails were excellent. Great presentation, good profile. Guacamole was good and tasty, usually at this price point it's made at the table side. The burrata was just too much with too many different flavors and textures. It lacked a clear unifying flavor profile. Fish tacos were average, good portion size to ask for sides to be extra seems like a little much. Half order of chicken was tender. Not dry. Appreciated the fresh tortillas. Sauces were good. The service was prompt, but lacked a certain friendliness and genuine interest. Our waitress was very transactional, but nice. This is the biggest area for improvement. Overall, the ambience was subtle, and not particularly impressive. It's somewhat smaller than I'd imagined. Perhaps expectations were a little too high? comparison was Casi Cielo in Dunwoody off Roswell Rd. which I love! read more

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Overall nice experience and I would go back. We sat at the bar and were able to find seats on a busy Saturday evening. The cocktails were fresh and delicious and the bartenders were great. The food was hit and miss. I would come back again to try more of the menu. read more

The ambiance was excellent; interesting decor. I hosted my women's group visit to Cafe Balam. First, you can't get iced tea. You can get margaritas but they have sugar. I ordered a wedge salad & it was large, but not much bacon. Several of us ordered the cauliflower dish. The cauliflower had been boiled and was soggy. The description states "goat cheese mousse" on green tomato gazpacho. Topped with hazelnuts. The gazpacho was tasteless, the goat cheese was very scant. I may visit again but not ordering the cauliflower dish. read more

Amazing experience here!!! Espresso martini is DELICIOUS and by delicious I mean strong. I would give this place 5 stars and come back just because of the queso! If you remember one thing from this review remember to order the QUESO! The menu is huge you are bound to find something you'll love, staff is awesome, and the vibes are immaculate. Don't forget to make a resy bc I heard they can get crowded! read more

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First the food is amazing! So fresh, homemade and the flavors are great. We had a reservation and were seated quickly. Now it is fairly loud in there and although you don't have to shout, you do need to speak up. However, it is farm to table so you are able to watch them cook. My husband had the Ribeye with the cactus and asparagus. I'm not an asparagus person but I can say the cook on it was done well. The cactus was bland but the steak was the star of the show. I had the Birria and the flavors of the consume were chefs kiss. The grilled fish tacos and the duck empanadas were to write home about. Thoroughly enjoyed it. read more

It was my birthday and I chose this spot because I wanted to try something new (to me). I haven't been on the scene for quite some time. We ordered ceviche, empanadas de birria and burrata to start. Definitely enough for two to four people. I enjoyed the empanadas. That's all. Everything else was very underwhelming. The ceviche could have been better but it didn't have enough flavor. Was missing something. That was kinda the case for the entree. Now I do t remember what it was called but it was branzino. Not the most exciting. We got the sticky toffee cake which I did enjoy. I wanted to like this place but it fell short on delivering tasty food. Great decor and service. I couldn't even tell how I was feeling about the food. She was so sweet. If you're going try the tacos and let us know how they are. I probably should have gotten those instead. read more

The taco de pulpo is amazinggggg, the octopus is so fresh and the flavors of this tacos meshed really well. Our server was Dennise and she took care of us in so many ways. The restaurant is so cute, the vibes give a little bit of Tulum almost. Love it!! read more

Casa Balam - Tacos de Pulpo and Chipotle BBQ wings - Desserts Near Me - Decatur, Georgia

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I truly enjoyed the food, drinks, and amazing ambience. I want Zeb to be my best friend. I appreciate the drink recommendations and the beautiful energies of all the staff. I will be back for the Mezcal read more

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I was pleasantly surprised when I came here after I saw a video of this place on social media. Immediately walking in the decor is stunning. It's a smaller space than what I imagined but that didn't matter any. Service was great, very attentive. To start I tried the Pulpo and the Empanadas de Birria. 10/10 the most delicious starters and the portions were perfect for sharing. I had the 8oz Filet with the chimichurri and arroz de la casa, all exquisite. For dessert I had the tres leches and it was delicious! It was made with blueberries and it was game changer! I look forward to coming back. read more

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Went here for my friend's birthday and let me tell you!!!! Don't be intimidated by the pricing of this place, because the quality of the food is worth it. We tried a little bit of everything and not one of them disappointed. Even when the place was busy, the servers were so tentative to us. They opened up the doors to let in the natural air from outside which just added to the vibes of the place. I had such a great experience here and will definitely come back! read more

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I've been meaning to come to Casa Balam since it opened, as I really like Oaxaca in Chamblee (I believe they are owned/co-owned by the same people). One of the things that sort of confirmed this was the same guacamole is served in both restaurants, I've never seen anyone include walnuts in it, but it works! I made a reservation through Resy for Memorial Day. My girlfriend and I were seated in the "Dining Room" since the reservation gave an option for that, lounge, and patio. The restaurant is very nice, I love the decor, as it reminds me a lot of Mexico. Parking was a little tricky. Due to the holiday, the street parking limited me to 1 hour. I ended up parking by Capt Loui and just walking to the restaurant. For the food, we ordered the tacos de milanesa, tacos campechanos, pollo rostizado a la pibil, and an order of the arroz de la casa. Tacos come 2 per order and are decent sized. -Tacos de Milanesa- My girlfriend enjoyed the tacos. Milanesa de pollo is typically breaded chicken cutlets, but these looked a lot thicker, sort of like a tenderloin. -Tacos Campechanos- I ordered these, which contained steak, chorizo, and carnitas. They were good also, good flavor and the salsa went well with it. -Arroz de la Casa- The rice was...different. Not necessarily in a bad way. In Mexico, rice is usually made with a tomato base with other ingredients usually not visible due to being cooked into the rice. The taste was very reminiscent of chicken soup, according to my girlfriend. I agreed that it did, but I was ok with the different take on the rice. -Pollo Rostizado a la Pibil- We ordered the "half" portion, and the plating was pretty big. I think you could potentially share it with 2 people, potentially because I would normally eat it myself! I can't say I was impressed with the chicken. It lacked salt and I didn't really taste the flavors. The chicken was tender, but I've never been a fan of uncrispy chicken skin. It came with an order of homemade blue corn tortillas (I think you get to choose between that and flour) and 3 salsas. I didn't see what kind of salsas they were but if I had to guess, the dark green is a tomatillo salsa, light green is an avocado based salsa, and the orange one looked like a creamy red salsa. I saw another dish had a "chile de arbol aioli" so I think that may have been it, I recognize the spice level of chile de arbol from a mile away! Alejandra, our server, was very attentive and explained the menu for us. The food didn't take long to come out, and you may get a treat by smelling the grilled steak in the air! I enjoyed the food here and will come to try the other dishes. I think this spot is good for a night out or just having regular dinner. read more

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Absolutely loved this new restaurant in Decatur! Came across it on IG and we love Mexican food so we had to try it. The decor is stunning and modern/chic. Definitely a great option for date night, family dinner, or solo vibes at the bar. The guacamole was amazing! Well seasoned and served with warm tostadas. The lobster tostada was also really good! Lots of textures and flavors there. The duck empanada was just ok - I wanted it to be a little more flavorful, but it was bland. Alejandra was our waitress and she was very pleasant and helped us pick out some great options. We got so full from the starters that we didn't order any mains. We plan to try to grilled fish tacos when we go back! read more

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Pretty fun atmosphere Good drinks Food was good, nothing truly memorable. Very nice evening with old friends Ran out of their sloe gin drink at 8pm on a Friday Waiter was rarely there--would've ordered another drink but was never asked. 20 min wait for check Food, while somewhat creative, was wildly overpriced. Choose wisely. read more

We loved our dinner at Casa Balam. The drinks were incredible, their version of an old fashioned was perfect and I also enjoyed the drink with turmeric. We had the burrata and pork belly for appetizer, both were delicious. I had the halibut and my husband had the filet and both were incredible. Service was a little slow but the food was incredible. read more

After having Casa Balam on my list for ages, I finally made it there with high expectations. I reserved a table for six and appreciated their call to confirm our booking and inform us they accept only three cards per table, which worked perfectly as we were all couples. They also took note of our one gluten-free diner, which was a considerate touch. Upon arrival, we were immediately struck by the stunning interior - truly a feast for the eyes. Our waitress went above and beyond, personally writing down all the gluten-containing options for my partner. While this was incredibly thoughtful, I do wish the menu itself had gluten-free labels to make it easier for those with dietary restrictions. The cocktails were a highlight. I tried the Carrito de Mango, a delightful blend of Pueblo Viejo Blanco Tequila, SI George Green Chili, Giffard Mango Liquor, basil, lime, jalapeños, and agave - an absolute treat. However, the bar did have some issues with stocking whiskey, but the bar manager and staff handled it with grace and kindness. Among the appetizers, the Queso Horneado was a hit, with its Mexican cheese blend baked in a clay pot, pickled jalapeños, mushrooms, and chorizo. The only downside was the flour-coated tortillas, which my gluten-free partner couldn't enjoy. Corn tortillas or regular tortilla chips would have been a better choice bc I did not see why it had the flour coating on it. The Empanadas de Pato, filled with duck confit braised in spices and citrus, house-made mole, pickled onions, and salsas, were tasty but slightly overcooked. The accompanying sauce helped balance the dryness. For our main courses, we had a bit of mixed experiences: - The Caesar Salad, unfortunately, was a disappointment. The romaine tasted like it was dressed in spoiled mayonnaise, which was quite sad. - The Filete de Atun, featuring pan-seared ahi tuna with a strawberry and habanero emulsion, tomatoes, onions, capers, cilantro, and sesame seeds, was a delightful dish. My personal favorite!! The flavors were so refreshing and the tuna was very fresh - The Tacos de Pulpo, with braised octopus, pickled onions, escabeche, tortilla, peppers, cilantro, chile de arbol aioli, and corn, were generally good, though the mayo tasted slightly off. - The Tacos de Carne Asada were the standout, featuring grilled skirt steak, cactus pico de gallo, bone marrow, corn tortilla, and salsas - incredibly flavorful and a true highlight of the meal. Overall, Casa Balam provided a mixed but memorable dining experience. The beautiful ambiance, outstanding cocktails, and some exceptional dishes make it worth a visit, though there are areas for improvement, especially concerning gluten-free options and consistency in food quality. I will definitely come back to try again bc the vibes and the service and kindness of the staff was 100% better than any restaurant I've been to lately read more

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Incredible ambience as a fine dining Mexican style restaurant l, professional service with attention to details, Manager took care of each table with great food recommendations, our food was fresh and flavorful. Very recommended read more

Casa Balam - Octopus taco - Desserts Near Me - Decatur, Georgia

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Me and my party of 7 came on Easter. The food and drinks were amazing. I highly recommend there Eggnog french toast.. OMG it was delicious and there empanadas Birria was amazing. The place is beautiful. The service was great. Perfect for a girls night out or date night. Will definitely be back soon. read more

Ambiance & service was on point. Food was good but was expecting more for the money. We got the queso dip, tuna, lamb, & tacos. They all had a slightly different spin and flavor/portions was ok. Guess my expectations were just higher based on all the other reviews. read more

This is was our first time at Casa Balam, an upscale Mexican cuisine. The ambiance was great. The food was good. Oysters were good, and the guacamole starter was amazing. The staff were wonderful. I wasn't impressed by little things. I ordered a mojito and was given virgin mojito. We didn't have reservations so we had to sit outside, and we gotten a table next to public trash can. Our food took a long time to get to us. It is more like a Tex Mex restaurant experience. The food portion to the prices, not to my liking. read more

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The atmosphere, service, and food here are all very good! Everything we had tasted great! A party of 8 ordered just about everything on the menu with no complaints. read more

Casa Balam - Ahí tuna - Desserts Near Me - Decatur, Georgia