Food was ok, classic tex-mex with a hint of Mexican flavors…read more Went for lunch and it was good.

We were traveling from San Antonio to Austin with our three kids for a dance competition and…read moredecided to stop at Casa Maria for dinner. My wife had visited years ago, and a close friend had recently recommended it, so it seemed like a good opportunity to give it a try. The building itself is beautiful. We parked in the rear lot and entered through the bakery, which immediately caught our attention. There was an impressive variety of pastries on display, and the kids were quickly informed they could each pick one out later if they behaved. The restaurant also has several colorful walls and decorative displays that make for fun photo opportunities and selfies. We were seated at a large table toward the back near the restrooms. Service was friendly throughout the meal and reasonably attentive despite the restaurant being busy. To drink, I ordered the jalapeño prickly pear margarita, while my wife chose a peach, coconut, and strawberry margarita. Both had excellent flavor. My wife's drink was especially memorable--it tasted like a cross between a strawberry margarita, peach bellini, and piña colada. The only thing missing was a little more tequila, as both drinks leaned more toward the sweet side than the spirited side. The chips were slightly thicker than I typically prefer but still enjoyable, and the salsa selection was excellent with a pleasant level of heat. The kids ordered bean and cheese tacos from the children's menu, and the restaurant happily substituted fruit for rice without any upcharge, which we appreciated. For our entrees, my wife ordered the vegetarian enchiladas while I chose the fajitas. The fajitas were good overall, though the meat portion felt a bit light and seemed stretched by a generous amount of green peppers. The rice, however, was excellent and one of the better components of the meal. Before leaving, we visited the bakery. The kids enjoyed their donuts and cookie, while I opted for a guava empanada that turned out to be one of the highlights of the visit. Overall, Casa Maria impressed me more with its atmosphere, bakery, and creative drinks than with the food itself. It's a beautiful restaurant with a fun family-friendly vibe, a strong bakery program, and some excellent margarita flavors. I'd gladly stop back for the pastries and drinks--and if they ever decide to be a little more generous with the tequila, even better.