Casa Nueva

Address:	6 W State St, Athens, OH 45701, USA
Phone:	+1 740-592-2016
Site:	casanueva.com
Rating:	4.4
Working:	8AM–2AM 8AM–2AM 8AM–2AM 8AM–2AM 8AM–2AM 9AM–2AM 9AM–2AM

Location

Photos 100

Reviews 8

Derek Whitlock

Casa Nueva, a worker-owned cooperative, is one of the few places to eat in uptown Athens, OH, and while the absence of competitive quality-augmentation may be a common theme among Athens small selection of eateries, Casa isnt bad. The restaurants wait-staff of worker-owners can sometimes be disappointingly inattentive (even rude), but the community there is, if nothing, tight knit, and carries an air of local charm. The table-side service leaves a little something to be desired, but despite a few awkward incidences, Ill concede to the idea that one can generally make it through a Casa lunch/brunch relatively painlessly. A 20% gratuity is built into the price of food and drink so if you DO have a bad experience, there is no retribution. The food is a bit pricey, but wont break the bank (add-ons and side items sometimes carry a completely unreasonable price tag). The cost of alcohol is also high, but the drinks are strong and the bartenders are competent. Due to the sparsity of dining and drinking options in town, Casa Nueva is among the hottest spots in Athens to spend an evening... and after a while it might grow on you. I will say that, as a late-night music venue, I have enjoyed Casa on numerous occasions. Three stars for the restaurant, four stars for the bar/bodega, and five for the music. Four stars, baby. Go and check out a show and let loose of your scathing resentment for life, you cantankerous jerkface :) Enjoy your stay in Athens - the other brick city.

Benton Molina

Casa is an Athens staple. It can fairly be said that its food is good. Good, in a "remixes of the same items" kind of way. The ingredients are quality, and the place wont let you forget how local and sustainable they are. Thats the best of Casa. The worst of the place is more substantial. Never make plans surrounding Casa. Your chance of getting a table in the afternoon is next to zero. Wait times are always upwards of 45 minutes, during which youre expected to booze yourself at the bar. This would be avoidable/acceptable, if the establishment took reservations. Bewilderingly, given its local fame, it doesnt. If indeed you find a table, expect no usual standard of serving courtesy. The staff are brusque, unprofessional, and have neither a dress code nor uniform. They share the irritating habit of using the first person possessive "I have X" when listing the days special items. Only if you appreciate chatty, casual staff will you enjoy being served. Simply put, if the standard of Athens cuisine is marked by willful casualness and pretension over ingredient sourcing, Casa is a gem. By higher standards, not so much.

Shane Anglin

I want to begin with recommendations for those reading the lower star reviews. If you are on a time crunch, give the Bodega menu a try. You seat yourself, order with the bartender, and grab your food out of the window. Its a quick way to grab a snack or make a meal building your own quesadilla. Their salsa selections are great. Wednesday nights in the Bodega are the best. Go early for Puerco Pibil, its delicious. If you are planning a relaxing eating experience give the restaurant side a try. Their menu is larger than the Bodega menu, and you will never have a server give you stank eye to rush you along. Grab some chips and salsa while you wait and sip on something tasty from the bar. What do I love about Casa.... Wonderful staff, mmm bloody marys, good beer selection, and great food (their soysage gravy and biscuits are my kryptonite). Lastly, I dont believe the staff/owners consider Casa to be a Mexican restaurant. Its an easy assumption to make, but definitely off the mark. Casa is a staple for me, and I always take my hometown guests there.

Daniel Canterbury

I have been going to Casa for 25+ years. Heres what it is: it is a social gathering place catering to long-time townies and the older college crowd; with good drinks, fresh but uninteresting food, terrible service (rude and downright ignorant waitstaff and managers) and the most unorganized billing you will ever experience. They operate in a niche that they own, and feel no need to try to improve anything. They have no idea how bad their service and billing is, as they are in the hothouse of Athens, Ohio, and have never had training; competition has never forced improvement, and they really have no knowledge of possible comparisons. If you accept it for what it is, you will probably have a good time. If you go with the expectation of receiving the type of service that you would get in a more competitive environment, you will be disappointed. Thats it...

Sierra Ginsbach

If Im being totally honest, when I first moved here 9 years ago, I was pretty skeptical of Casa because it wasnt your run of the mill Mexican restaurant as I had anticipated it being. I started really enjoying their drinks (the infused vodkas are to die for) and eventually decided to try the food again, which was a great life choice on my part because its absolutely delicious. This may sound odd but I noticed that as my love for the Athens local community grew, my endearment toward Casa also grew. Casa uses local ingredients and gives their employees a livable wage (which is hard to come by in the restaurant business). I definitely recommend Casa to anyone, my only advice is to go there understanding that its not comparable to Gran Ranchero (so to speak) in terms of being a "typical authentic Mexican restaurant"

Isaac Smith

Casa is probably the quintessential "Athens" restaurant and bar. Its funky and worker-owned, the ingredients are local and seasonal, and the tip is built in to the price of your meal. Expect to wait awhile for a table and then for your food—I would say that a 30 to 45 minute wait for a table to get dinner or brunch is normal, and Ive waited up to 90 minutes—but believe me, its worth it. Get the seasonal salsas and guacamole as an appetizer, whether youre at your table for a big meal or on the bar side. Casa is also the bar to go to in Athens if youre looking to get a mixed drink; their Bloody Mary and Old Fashioned are especially good, as are their margaritas. The price of things up front is a little more expensive than what youd see at other places in Athens, but remember: you dont tip.

Kevin Michael Callihan Sr.

When I saw the tipping policy at this worked owned nice place to eat and enjoy yourself ; it told me a great deal about the consensus of policy among with worker owned facilitty that was first and foremost where tips would all goes to local charity. That to me, is a bold move and shows a lot about who runs the excellent services and facilities haffing lived here since June of 2003 while continully perpetually with several higher education degrees and one professional license to practice law tat has never been expressed online. I hope you find this review helpful as it is a favorite place to eat and find enjoyment in this specail town that is community first, then the perpetual education for over 200 years continues to grow..

Jennifer D.

First there was a 15 minute wait... okay no big, then we get into the (tiny) dining room and wait... and wait... and wait... till the server finally comes around takes our drink and our lunch order and we wait... and wait... and wait... food was great and then for the check, we wait.... and wait... and wait... and finally I took my card up to the front and the server was with us promptly (though apparently the check usually comes to the table you dont pay at the front). The food was good, but the service was horrible! So if you dont mind bad service with your locally grown, organic and over all good food. Go to Casa Nueva, if good service is what your after, go somewhere else.