I am officially in love with this place. I came here with a friend last night and was impressed immediately upon walking in. The vibes are perfect: Mexican but more modern, comfortable, and fun. I could tell everyone there was there cause they loved the food and the employees all had smiles on their faces. We were seated quickly and order the guac sampler to start our meals with our house margaritas. The house margs were great and automatically came with salt around the rim, which I loved. With the guac sampler, we got the black bean and ranchera salsa. I like the ranchera, but the real stars were the black bean salsa and their guac. The black bean salsa is not a traditional chunky black bean dip, it is smooth with many complex flavors. The guac also was very well balanced and the avocados were so fresh. Each of us was given our own chip baskets and went to town on these dips. For the main, my friend recommended me the Albany clucker quesadilla. That is a chicken quesadilla that comes with onions and bell peppers. The quesadillas are a good size, come out full of cheese and fillings, and are served with your choice of salsa. I tried the seasonal salsa, which was dark, smooth, and smokey. It went so well with the quesadilla! Both of us ate about half our meals and left feeling full, which plenty of food for another meal later. I will be coming back any time I come back to town. The vibes are good, the food is better, and the prices are very reasonable compared to other modern Mexican restaurants around. If you need a good spot for dinner or drinks, I highly recommend here. It makes me wish I lived closer. read more

Casa Nueva still the best in Athens, OH! Celebrating 40 years of the freshest, homemade salsas, guacamole, burritos, enchiladas, tacos you will find in the Midwest using fresh, locally grown organic ingredients. Plus great bar where they use fresh squeezed juices for their margaritas, cocktails & have a great selection of craft beers, seltzers & ciders. My go to is Framboise Belgian raspberry beer. Today we enjoyed salsa verde enchilada with tofu, tofu tacos. & I enjoyed burrito with the veggies of the day mushrooms & cabbage with the seasonal salsa Roasted Tomato Roja. Great service too. Casa is a must visit!!! read more

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Picked Casa Nueva while in town for OU orientation. We called ahead for a table and were given the impression that it was needed. Parked at a meter. Entered through the bar, and it was empty, on a Thursday evening. We were brought to a dining room, which was also empty. None of the employees in the front of the house appeared to be Mexican. We should have recognized that red flag. The menu is small an oddly limited. There are only 2 (or maybe 3?) proteins to choose from and there is no sour cream or crema included in anything or listed as an option. We ordered chips and salsa (house medium). The SMALL basket was half full of chips that were oddly thick and had a vaguely rancid oil taste to them. I don't think they were made in house. They weren't warm. The salsa was hotter than I expected and there was also less of it than I expected. In most Mexican restaurants, chips and salsa are complimentary and much better than what we received. My son did a build-your-own burrito. I've never seen a burrito quite like what he was served. It was a square and was so thoroughly stuck to the plate that he had to forfeit whatever was at the bottom to eat any of it. There was a small bit of salsa that was baked onto the top and completely dry, rendering it ineffective as a topping. I had the Athens Clucker Quesadilla, as a platter. The quesadilla itself was tasty. The rice and refried beans that made it a "platter" for an extra $6 was disappointing. For one, it was plain white rice. Not yellow rice, Spanish rice, or orange-y colored Mexican rice. WHITE RICE. The refried beans looked strangely dry, but once salted were okay in flavor. Service was absolutely atrocious for a place that was not busy at all. We tried to flag our server down several times and couldn't. When he finally stopped at our table my son asked for a refill of his water and waited through the entire time it took us to eat our meal. He finally refilled my son's glass after bringing a pitcher of water to refill glasses at a table that was seated after us. We will not return. There was honestly better food at the OU dining hall. read more

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Stopped in for lunch with my siblings. The food did take a little long to come out, but it was delicious! I would definitely come back for the crispy potatoes! read more

Casa Nueva - Mexican Near Me - Athens, Ohio

I mean, where else can you get sauerkraut and butternut squash in a 4,000 calorie burrito with a tortilla made from scratch?

Interesting place. It is very different and the food is good. A nice stop when in town.

Food was alright. Service was weird they seemed annoyed any of their patrons were there. Then the server proceeded to say terrible things about Californians, to which I replied "I'm from California" and it got really awkward. Overall not a good experience. And as someone from California I know good, authentic Mexican food so it wasn't too great. Wasn't awful though, if the service was better I'd rate it better. But it was a very weird, awkward, rude experience. read more

Ok, ok... I failed as a yelper... I did not take any pics of the food... I got the sausage and gravy.. it was good. Nothing spectacular not terrible. However, my friend got the huevos rancheros... I'm here you to tell you.. mind blowing! Holy shit. Flavor, flavor, Flavor This is theeeee perfect Mexican spot read more

Casa Nueva - Gazpacho Bloody Mary - Mexican Near Me - Athens, Ohio

This is the best Mexican food I've ever had this side of Texas. You can taste the fresh ingredients and there is a special seasoning or spice they put in here and there to make a ho-hum usual Mexican item elevated to their own signature dish. Service was professional and friendly. The pineapple daiquiri is perfection....strong enough to make it a delicious sipper. I wish this place was in my own town. It's just that good. read more

Wonderful atmosphere! Food is top-notch. Excellent service. Enchilada Verde all the way! Highly recommended!

I have a soft spot in my heart for Casa, as it was a restaurant I loved supporting when I was a student at OHIO (mumble) years ago. I've had the opportunity to visit on some recent visits, and while some of the shine has worn off as I've grown up and explored some incredible restaurants, there's something about Casa's magic that brings me back. It's an unassuming space in Uptown Athens. There are several seating areas throughout the restaurant - my preference is generally in what I consider the 'main' room near the bar because its bustling with activity and, if you have any affiliation with Athens or the university, you're likely to run into a familiar face or two. The menu is basic Mexican. My favorite is the Albany Clucker Quesadilla - locally raised chicken in a quesadilla with peppers and onions. I love the black bean salsa with it. The drink menu is great and Casa is known for their fresh juices as mixers. It's a local, employee-owned business. No tipping allowed because of the co-op ownership, and you can feel good that people are being paid living wages. read more

Food, Service, Ambiance ... all OUTSTANDING! We were visiting for a graduation at OU. Casa Nueva was recommended by friends in the area - fantastic in every way. We especially appreciated the social awareness ... needed now more than ever. Thank you! read more

Casa is wonderful and weird! It's a local staple. If you don't like it here, YATA or you need to try a different order! The enchiladas, huevos rancheros, and biscuits and gravy are amazing. Try the seasonal specials. They also make my favorite margaritas. The service and vibes are great. This is a place for true connection! As an alumni, I always make a stop at casa whenever I'm in town. read more

Stopped in Athens on a road trip and found this place recommended on Reddit. The Huevos Rancheros with Verde Sauce was fantastic. Definitely some of the best I've had. Service was also good with very friendly staff. I highly recommend a stop in here for breakfast and I can't wait to come back to try lunch/dinner. read more

Casa Nueva - Huevos Rancheros with Verde Sauce and Cajun Home Fries - Mexican Near Me - Athens, Ohio

Mild, not wild Tucked into a cozy building with wooden floors, brightly colored walls, and local artwork, you'll find this little gem. The menu is pretty tame, with even the hottest salsa not quite what I'd expect. The service was quick, friendly, and chill, and the kitchen (viewable from my table) looked like a well oiled machine. I did expect a bit more true Mexican flavor, but the food was hot, fresh, and tasty. I did add jalapeños to my quesadilla, for a little extra punch, but it still wasn't as alive with spice and flavor as I had hoped. I fully expected more heat. I typically hang around a 6-7 on a 1-10 scale at most establishments. But here.... I went all the way to habanero with very little feeling of heat (sigh). Excellent array of vegan options. Overall, a good experience, and we left with full bellies. read more

Casa Nueva - Chips with black bean salsa, house medium, and guacamole. The guacamole is $5..... - Mexican Near Me - Athens, Ohio

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Been a fan of this place for years! Any time I come to Athens I make sure to stop in.

$6.25for stale, cold chips & salsa! My 1/2 burrito stuck to the metal plate & and as tasteless. $32 for chips& salsa, I/2 a burrito & a small taco salad that didn't even have a tortilla shell. The menus says "no tips". If they allowed tipping we might have received a refill on our empty water glasses. read more

Was looking for a place to have some drinks & a bite to eat & stumbled upon this place. We got seated in the side area of the restaurant with a lumpy ass seat. We ordered drinks that were good & chips with salsa. The verde salsa tasted like it was store bought & the medium salsa was mild at best. Also, what Mexican restaurant charges $8 for chips & salsa??? My lady ordered an al a carte chicken enchilada & it was $10!!! 10 bucks for a mediocre single enchilada. I ordered an overpriced chimichanga. I know we are in Ohio, but this is major whitewashed Mexican food. Honestly, you can easily make better at home. If you want better food, try El Tenampa restaurant on Court Street. The service is slower, but the food & prices are so much better. Also, they don't charge for chips & salsa. read more

This place has been around for a while, and had a great reputation. I'd been there a few times, and had always had good experiences. But the last time I went it was dreadful. The service was extremely slow, even though the place didn't seem busy. Nobody ever came to check to see if we wanted more drinks, and the food took forever to arrive. And when it did arrive it was terrible. I had street tacos that were stone cold. I almost never send back food, but I did this time. It came back, and this time the meat was hot, but the salsa they put on top was ice cold. Anyway, I won't go back. read more

been coming here for 10 years! the staff is so kind, the food is great, and the price isn't even that expensive. they are kid friendly and the atmosphere is warm and inviting. very local and friendl, 10/10 would recommend read more

First time visiting Athens and someone recommended this place and it did not disappoint. The home made salsas were unique and the service was wonderful. I loved the create your own burrito option and the crunchy outside shell was amazing! We got a pitcher of the basic margarita, but I think we should have tried a specialty drink instead. Overall it was a great experience read more

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Outstanding food and service! Went here for an early dinner on Dad's weekend. As many places were booked well in advance, I read other reviews and this seemed like a good place to try. We had a pitcher of strawberry margaritas that at first glance seemed a bit short, but then we realized they'd already lured our first glass from the pitcher. Made with fresh strawberry (not syrup, our server informed us) it was delicious! We started with the 6 layer dip, which they made with beans on the side for our table. We had a choice of chips, pita, or both. The chips were a perfect choice for us to go with. It was just about right for 3 people. We had the the Albany Clucker Quesadilla with fresh salsa (I chose BBQ: it was awesome!). We also had the enchiladas verde, which had a nice healthy bite to it. They make a nice selection of salsas and one in our party chose the Ranchera which was also excellent. We did not realize that tip was already included on our check, but even that said, the price was more than fair for the amount t of food, drink, and excellent service we received. read more

Got the street burrito rap server was good... good service. Staff was very strange very weird decorations and devil stuff everywhere. Burrito was a 6.8\10 chili was pretty good 7.7/10. Food came out super quick! read more

Casa Nueva - Street Burrito Wrap - Mexican Near Me - Athens, Ohio

This place is awesome and the quesadillas are phenomenal. The margaritas are legendary. You cannot miss being at this place. read more

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This employee owned spot is An Athens classic. As an OU alum I always look forward to a meal when I'm in town to visit my son. You can't go wrong with anything on the menu. read more

What a great place to go to ! Food was great , service was great and they made u feel so comfortable there , a cool vibe the entire time I was there , and a large selection of salsas was awesome read more

Casa Nueva - Build Your Own Quesadilla - Mexican Near Me - Athens, Ohio

Best thing was the margaritas, even though they were $18 each. There are cheaper margarita options on the menu. The regular salsa was bland and just tasted like tomato. I added Tabasco to give it more flavor. The chips are okay. Ended up ordering guacamole as well to finish off the chips, guac was good! We had a burrito with side of rice and refried beans and a couple tacos. We weren't impressed with any of it. Both were dry. Tacos each had one dry corn tortilla splitting. Pretty standard to use two corn tortillas for tacos and they should be warm and covered to keep them fresh. Rice was like just plain white rice. Kind of odd. The baker does a pretty bangin job though. We enjoyed the brownie and balsamic glazed strawberry cake we got to go. read more

As I'm sitting here, starting to write this review, it suddenly dawned on me that while I haven't visited in a long while, Casa Nueva will go down in my history as one of my all time favorite restaurants. Yep, I said it! If we jump right into their food, you really can't go wrong with anything on the menu. As a vegetarian, there's tons of options to choose from. However, their vegetarian chili is fire and it's my absolute favorite when it's wrapped up like a burrito. All of their food is clearly made with love and top notch ingredients. Next, we talk about the environment here because friends, it's truly magical. While you can sit down for dinner, order from the bodega, or grab a drink at the bar, you really can't go wrong. Prior to the pandemic, they often had live music and some of the best days of my 20's were spent dancing there, drinking their amazing bloody marys and white russians. While things are obviously a little different these days, I doubt it's any less special. The cool wood decor, local art, and amazing people keep that love flowing I'm sure. Can't wait to get back soon! read more

4/2021 We had a fantastic dinner at Case Nueva on a Saturday night. It is the middle of the COVID crisis and I felt safe. There was social distancing inside the restaurant. The food & service was fantastic. This is one of the best Mexican restaurants I've ever been to. read more

Casa Nueva - Quesadilla - Mexican Near Me - Athens, Ohio

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Wow, i now understand why everyone who i've ever talked to about Athens has told me, "you HAVE to go to Casa!" The atmosphere is warm and welcoming, the staff was great. The menu had so many wonderful vegan options, it was hard to make a choice! My boyfriend and i got the salsa sampler to start. Two baskets of chips, guacamole (really outstanding guac) and two salsas - the salsa verde (best salsa i've ever had in my life) and the ranchera salsa (really great too). We both ordered the same thing for lunch without even discussing it first (how psychic of us). We got the vegan burrito + vegan cheese (DO IT!!!) with barbecue salsa baked on top. WOWWW, absolutely the BEST burrito i've ever had in my life. We both feel this way! The vegan cheese was also the absolute best vegan cheese i've ever, ever tasted. I highly recommend adding that in. The house made flour tortilla was exceptionally delicious. The whole thing is a 15/10!!! For "dessert" my boyfriend got the tofu fries. He devoured them, absolutely loved them. For me, they were a bit too heavy... but i'm not a fan of deep fried things. The vegan mayo they had to accompany the fries was tasty! The fries and sauce definitely have a good flavor, it was just too heavy for me. Overall we has a wonderful experience at Casa Nueva. Highly recommend checking this cute spot out! *ALSO* i found it interesting that Casa is a no tipping restaurant. I've never experienced that before! It is employee owned, and it really showed by the amount of care and love that was flowing through the walls. The way the staff interacted and got along was so nice. Excellent service all around. Prices were definitely fair in my opinion, too. VERY high quality food being served here. So, so appreciative! read more

Casa Nueva - Vegan Burrito - Mexican Near Me - Athens, Ohio

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I stopped by to get a bite on a whim and It was amazing! I would highly recommend to any of my friends!

This was recommended by an Alumni and I had high hopes. The food was pretty good, the price on the other hand is quite high. We got 4 meals and chips and guac and it was more than 70$ . We got a good selection, a breakfast burrito, enchilada verde, and Casa que Pasa burrito and a create your own burrito. My husband likes the breakfast burrito, but the veggies definitely needed cooked more. The size of the other three were very generous, but 17$ for two chicken enchiladas seems quite steep. The chips and guacamole were not worth the more the 6$ price tag. We called ahead and they had the food ready at the time they said for pick up. The highlight was the berry chipotle salsa, which was really tasty! read more

Always a good option. Good for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Good service for takeout and in person. Not too loud, has nice background music. Good for all ages. Has a bar with lots of variety and local option. Has live music nights that are always a blast. Very much a go-to for me as a local. read more

Good front of house service. Team service was lacking. Appetizer came with dinner. Chips tasted like bagged corn chips. Salsas tasted like jarred salsa, not freshly made. Seems like the restaurant is on the right track for Locavore, but nothing we ate had a good flavor. It was all very bland. We would not return nor recommend it to anyone. read more

Love Casa and that they're a co-op/no tipping. Everything is delicious that I've had, which is most often a chicken quesadilla or huevos rancheros. Salsa verde and the black bean salsas are my favorite. They're a 4 star because it's probably the slowest table service business in Athens. Make sure to go at least an hour before you plan to eat - I've waited 45 minutes for chips and guac before. Hopefully they'll be able to staff more/fix operations to get back to pre-covid service to make this a 5 star restaurant. read more

Food was ok and service was very slow with not too many people there. Not sure if we will be back

Weird review. This covers my only 2 visits. Our 1st time was our son's college orientation. Our 2nd time was when we moved him into the dorms. Visit 1: We (4 people) sat at the bar. Margaritas were delicious, food was great, and we left raving about the place. We told everyone to go and how great it was. Visit 2: We (this time 6 adults) we're so excited we made sure to call in a reservation and brought along another couple because they heard us raving! However it couldn't be any more opposite than the 1st. We were sat at 7pm to a 1/2 full restaurant. We sat for nearly 15-18min before a server came over. Once they arrived, the young man seemed annoyed to be there. I get that people sometimes have bad nights, but it was uncomfortable feeling he didn't want to be our server? Weird. We ordered some apps and pitcher of margarita for 5 and 1 cocktail. 15 min later... pitcher arrived. Another 15 min the apps arrive... cocktail, nope. So far it's been 45-50 min since we sat arrived! Our server disappeared, literally was not on the floor. I eventually flagged down another server and asked if she could find our server. Her shows back up another 5 min later and I asked about my cocktail. "Oh, yeah, I don't think I put that in?" He says? WTF! So another 10 min I finally get my cocktail. Then he disappears again for 15-20 min. So now we're almost 90 min and 1 order of drinks and dude is gone! Next time he is out, we flag him down and ask if he can take our dinner order. He says, "Oh, I forgot that I didn't take your order." Again, WTF. Finally order... food arrives. And to make this long review short, he disappears again. Can't order more drinks, can't get water refilled, and it's over 2hrs and we want to pay bill. Finally someone walks to bar and asks for our bill. Guy apologizes and says he'll comp check. Server dude comes back again and can't figure out how to use the POS system. Apologies from manager , blames POS system, we pay and can't get out of there fast enough. Over 2 hours of being ignored has nothing to do with POS. Sadly, I'm not sure I'll go again and our kid just started freshman year at OU! read more

Great food and service. Very popular. A clean, uncluttered eating area and bar. Highly recommend.

Amazing food, service, and ambiance! Casa is like if your mom's hippie friends started up a tex-mex restaurant -- think locally owned worker coop using nearby fresh foods and offering specials based on what's in season at the time, too. Plus, they make great (strong!) drinks! read more

Fantastic worker-owned restaurant, with great service (which, by the way is included, so no tipping! nice!). The food is delicious. Would recommend the quesadillas and the stacked enchiladas. They've got events and local artwork on display throughout the beautiful (and historic) interior. Can't wait to go back. read more