Home » Travel » Texas » Casa Ole

Casa Ole

© Joy Butler

We always choose a day early in December to do the bulk of our Christmas shopping. After walking every store, searching every shelf, and loading our vehicle with all kinds of gifts, we are in desperate need of some delicious nourishment and a place to relax. For years, it's been our Christmas shopping tradition to go to a Casa Ole Mexican restaurant for that much-needed refreshment.

With décor suggesting stone and adobe, Casa Ole is rich in south-of-the-border atmosphere. Walls covered with murals of scenes from old Mexico are accented by brightly colored parrot and desert animal figurines while Mexican guitar music plays softly in the background. Diners can choose seating at either a table or a comfy booth. We usually choose a booth.

When you live in Texas you have to love Mexican food and Casa Ole serves up some of the best. Their fajita plates, served with onions and bell peppers, soft flour tortillas, rice, beans, pico de gallo, cheese, guacamole and sour cream, are quite popular. I usually get the cheese enchilada plate with rice and beans but sometimes choose the Laredo or the Juarez. There is so much good Tex-Mex food to choose from on the menu, which offers children's and seniors' plates, in addition to free drink refills by attentive waiters, and all you can eat of tortilla chips and the best hot sauce anywhere, served while you wait for your meal. And if you love cheese sauce, there's none better than Casa Ole's. Their sopapilla topped with powdered sugar, cinnamon and a special rum sauce, or the Mexican sundae, a fried flour tortilla filled with vanilla ice cream and topped with hot fudge and whipped cream are my favorite ways to top off the meal.

Casa Ole was the result of Larry Forehand's dream to provide families with delicious Mexican food at a reasonable price and with excellent service. The first restaurant opened in Pasadena in 1973, followed by the second one in Houston in 1976. During the years, success drove the number of restaurants to over 40 throughout Texas, with three in neighboring Louisiana. There are now two in Pasadena and seven in Houston. Casa Ole also offers catering.

When you're tired from shopping or just want to take the kids and go out for dinner, Casa Ole is a nice restaurant of choice. If you're traveling through Texas and want to try some good Tex-Mex dishes, Casa Ole is the place. My whole family loves Casa Ole so I, sometimes, conveniently, finish up my Christmas shopping there by buying gift certificates.

The copyright of the article Casa Ole in Texas is owned by . Permission to republish Casa Ole in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.