Patio
dining at Casa de Bandini |
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there] [More information]
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| Editor's
note (6/4/06): Although new operators are running a restaurant
at this location, the original Casa de Bandini has closed
and the owner is looking for another location. We will
update this article when we receive the new information. |
One
of San Diego's finest Mexican restaurants is located in one
of San Diego's oldest buildings. The restored Casa de Bandini
(built circa 1829) is the home of a wonderful restaurant of
the same name.
Serving
huge margaritas and the best Mexican food to be found in San
Diego, Casa de Bandini has been voted both the "Best
Mexican Restaurant" and the "Best Patio Dining Experience"
in several newspaper and magazine reader's polls.
Lush
gardens, fountains, and bright colors greet you as you enter
their courtyard patio. The surrounding building is built in
Spanish/Mexican colonial style. Originally the home of the
Juan Bandini family and later an Old Town San Diego hotel,
the historic edifice has been a restaurant since 1980. At
those rare times when San Diego's weather makes patio dining
less attractive, three indoor dining rooms are available.
My
favorite entrée is the chicken mole enchiladas. The
mole sauce has a sweet and earthy taste that accentuates the
tangy Mexican spices in the enchilada. The menu also offers
a variety of other dishes, including several with lobster.
There's something for every taste at Casa de Bandini.
After
you've enjoyed a hearty meal, you can walk it off in the Old
Town San Diego State Historic Park, the oldest colonial settlement
in California. A number of original haciendas, business, and
commercial buildings have been restored and are well worth
discovering. Be sure to duck into the Wells Fargo Museum for
a glimpse of the frontier past.
Don
Woodmancy
1/03
|
