Blog Entries
Vote for Casa de Pico in U-T San Diego’s Readers Poll
0Casa de Pico has been nominated by the readers of the U-T San Diego as Best Mexican Restaurant and Best Fish Tacos! Vote for us at: www.sdbestpoll.com/. You can vote once per day until Sunday, July 7. Happy voting!
Welcome, Casa Sol y Mar!
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Help us welcome Casa Sol y Mar to Diane Powers’ Bazaar del Mundo Restaurant family!
Casa Sol y Mar – the fourth restaurant in a family of fine Mexican eateries dispersed throughoutSan Diego– opened in May. The restaurant is located in the bustling Del Mar Highlands Town Center at 12865 El Camino Real, and is elaborately designed to reflect the true spirit ofMexico.
“Our philosophy is to offer great value and a delightful Mexican dining experience,” said Powers. “This includes memorable flavors, abundant selections, high quality and fresh ingredients, and a spirited, authentic environment that captures the essence of Mexican traditions.”
Guests will sense the warmth and enchantment ofMexicoas they enter through the beautiful wood and glass doors and find themselves standing beneath a high glowing ceiling and breathtaking iron chandelier. The interior of the restaurant is artfully painted in a fiesta of gold, crimson, and orange jewel tones, sparkling from wall to wall with Mexican folk art, festive embellishments, and glazed Mexican accent tiles in red, emerald, and orange hues.
The delicious menu is comprised of traditional Mexican dishes with an emphasis on flavor and freshness, including a large selection of regional entrees made from scratch, and award-winning seafood recipes that have been in the Bazaar del Mundo family for decades. The menu also features newly created small plates and appetizers, as well as entrees with a contemporary twist. Homemade dressings, salsas, guacamole and sauces are made fresh daily, along with hot corn and flour tortillas. There is also an extensive children’s menu, appetizing entrée salads and countless gluten-free, vegetarian and healthy dining selections.
In the lively cantina, guests enjoy giant frosty margaritas, sip fine Mexican beers and consume tasty appetizers and entrees. The cantina features flat screen TVs and reclaimed wood tables framed with black hammered iron and custom bar stools upholstered with bright wool fabrics hand woven by artisans in Oaxara, Mexico. In addition, Casa Sol y Mar offers a collection of top shelf, premium and specialty tequilas including Reposado and Anejo-aged in white oak casts for more than a year. Check out the Cantina menu here.
The Bazaar del Mundo Restaurants are famous for cheerful, strolling Mariachis who serenade guests Wednesday through Sunday evenings – completing the cultural experience.
Bazaar del Mundo Restaurants Win Gold Medallion Award
0We won! The California Restaurant Association has awarded the Bazaar del Mundo Restaurants – Casa Guadalajara, Casa de Pico and Casa de Bandini – the 2013 Gold Medallion Award for the Best Mexican Restaurants in San Diego.
Take a Virtual Tour at Casa de Pico
0Whether dining in our gorgeous dining room with it’s vivid colors, hand painted artwork, classic and authentic folk art, and wrought iron chandeliers or on our heated patio with it’s giant, splashing fountain, tropical plants and colorful flowers, Casa De Pico, brings you, in every way, the very best in Mexican culture. Our regional and traditional food, along with our frosty margaritas and strolling Mariachis, depict the true spirit of Mexico. Our handmade tortillas are a special treat when you taste them warm off the griddle from our display kitchen in the lobby, where our friendly staff is waiting to serve you.
Celebrate Cinco de Mayo with Flair at Casa de Pico
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Diane Powers first launched Old Town’s Cinco de Mayo festival in 1983, and today she continues her dedication to the exposition of Mexican cultures with lively celebrations at her Bazaar del Mundo Restaurants.
Weekend-long specials on food and drinks include: the festive “Cincorita” margarita – strawberry, Midori (melon flavored liqueur) and lime in layers of green, white and red, paying homage to the Mexican flag; cheesy Enchiladas Banderas – a savory sampling of chicken, cheese and beef enchiladas served with three different sauces – verde, blanca and rojas (green, white and red).
It wouldn’t be one of Powers’ distinguished events without strolling Mariachis and Folkloric dancers!
Also visit Powers’ Bazaar del Mundo Shops in Old Town for festive and authentic Cinco de Mayo attire and decorations for your own home or party.
Join us, Saturday & Sunday, May 4 to 5 – with live entertainment from noon to 9:30 p.m.
About Cinco de Mayo: Cinco de Mayo celebrates the Battle of Puebla, in which Mexican troops, led by General Ignacio Zaragoza, prevailed over French forces on May 5, 1862. Mexico’s soldiers, greatly outnumbered, defeated the army that was thought to be the most powerful in the world at the time. Though it did not stop the French from taking control of Mexico, the victory boosted the nation’s morale and determination to fight the invasion.
Vote for Casa de Pico in San Diego Magazine’s Best Restaurants 2013!
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Casa de Pico’s Gift Card Is The Perfect Stocking Stuffer!
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Casa de Pico Gift Cards are the perfect gift or stocking stuffer
“It’s The Umbrellas…”
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“The Umbrellas”
When you think of Casa de Pico Mexican Restaurant what do you think of first (besides the award winning margaritas)? The number one answer: the colorful umbrellas.
As many of you know, Casa de Pico (a.k.a. Pico) opened its doors in 1971 in Old Town. Many of the regulars, and out of town visitors, entered via Juan Street. If you were fortunate you’d get a parking space in the small parking lot, but most of us parked on the street and made the short walk to the opening in the fence that bordered Pico. What struck your first, what you couldn’t miss, what people loved to look at, what they loved to sit under, were those colorful umbrella. Like every detail at every restaurant Diane Power owns and operates, the umbrellas were always clean and never faded. They symbolized everything that Pico offered: quality. And Pico flourished their for years. Tourists, conventioneers and San Diego residents all associated Pico with the umbrellas. And came back again and again.
Fast forward to 2005. Diane loses her lease after 25 years. But if you know Diane you know she is tenacious and committed to her restaurants. Casa Guadalajara which had opened in 1995 stayed in Old Town. She found new homes for the two of them that were forced to relocate. Casa de Bandini went north to Carlsbad and Casa de Pico went East to La Mesa. And the Pico umbrellas went east to La Mesa as well. And the people followed. If you live in San Diego east of the 15 freeway you probably are like the majority and don’t go to La Mesa often, if at all. The umbrellas have changed that. Many San Diegans now head east on the 8 freeway and see the still beautiful and colorful umbrellas in the Grossmont Center.
Pico is located at 5500 Grossmont Center Drive, La Mesa. Call us at 619-463-3267. We’re celebrating our 40th Anniversary for seven months, so ask what the specials are when you arrive. Come and enjoy the food, the mariachi music, the festive atmosphere, the birdbath margarita’s…and the umbrellas. You’ll be so glad you did. And for our loyal followers, thank you for being so faithful to us over the years. We appreciate each and every one of you.
To see our menu, get directions and learn more about the best La Mesa Mexican Restaurant, go to www.casadepico.com.
