I rate restaurants within their category and concept. I am not comparing a neighborhood Mexican…read morerestaurant to a Michelin star fine dining experience. If a place delivers quality food, represents its cuisine well, and exceeds expectations for its setting, that earns a high rating from me.
We recently visited Casa De Avila in Leesburg, and I have to start with the horchata because it was truly the star of the meal. I am of Mexican heritage, my mom is Mexican, and I grew up drinking homemade horchata. This one tasted just like it should. It was creamy, clearly made with milk and condensed milk, with that soft sweetness and a gentle hint of cinnamon. It honestly tasted homemade, and that alone made me smile.
Now, it is hard for me personally to give most Mexican restaurants 5 stars, and that has more to do with my background than the restaurant itself. I was born and raised in Los Angeles and grew up eating incredible home cooking from my mom, who is an amazing cook. That naturally shapes my expectations. In the DMV area, it has been tough to find truly authentic Mexican flavors. With the exception of La Jarochita, and Mancha Cocina Mexicana, which is more elevated but very well done, good Mexican food can be hard to come by here.
All that said, Casa De Avila serves very good food and is probably the best I have found in this category locally. The sopes were made fresh, which makes a huge difference in both flavor and texture. The tacos were solid overall. The asada was very good, well seasoned and flavorful. The al pastor was good, but it did not quite have that deep, traditional flavor you get from proper trompo style preparation.
The esquites were also tasty, and the kids loved that they added hot Cheetos. That is a trend we saw in Los Angeles years ago, so it felt fun and nostalgic to see it here.
If I could offer one suggestion, it would be about the salsa. The salsa served tasted more like a bottled style Mexican salsa. I would love to see a true house made salsa roja or salsa verde, the kind where you char the tomatoes, tomatillos, chiles, and onions before blending. That deep roasted flavor is such a big part of authentic Mexican cooking and would elevate the whole experience even more.
The service was amazing from start to finish. Everyone was friendly, welcoming, and attentive, and the staff really helped make the experience even better.
Overall, Casa De Avila is doing a lot right. The food is flavorful, the horchata is exceptional, and it stands out in an area where good Mexican food is not easy to find. While my personal background makes me a tough critic, this is still a place I would happily return to. A solid 4 stars.