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Casa Brava (Westside)

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Experimenting with foreign cuisine is a popular activity for many Americans. In fact, America has many of its own imitation restaurants of different food categories such as Taco Bell, China Buffet, KFC, Long John Silver's, and many others. Even Mexican restaurants that claim to be "authentic" cuisine such as La Torre, La Charreada, Bajio, Fajitas, and Casa Brava aren't exactly authentic Mexican cuisine. These restaurants substitute different ingredients to fit with American conceptions of Mexican food. However, according to many Hispanics, and my own personal experience, Casa Brava is one of the best Mexican restaurants in Bloomington!

Casa Brava Mexican restaurant began its business here in Bloomington because the founding family started here. It is owned by Socrates Montano and family, who also operate the La Charreada chain in central Indiana. Bloomington currently has only one Casa Brava restaurant located on West 3rd Street. However, there is a new site set to open on the east side of Bloomington in March or April of 2007. Orlando Leon, a manager at the west side restaurant explains that the former Long John Silver's at 410 S. College Mall Road is expected to undergo remodeling for the grand opening of Bloomington's second Casa Brava restaurant. There are also other locations outside of Bloomington: there is a Casa Brava in Bedford, and one in Arkansas.

Specialties include steak Mexicano, a 12-ounce steak topped with onions and served with rice, beans, lettuce,tomato, guacamole, sour cream, pico de gallo and flour tortillas. Other menu items include; Enchiladas Verdes, and five kinds of fajitas. There are endless dishes of meal combinations to choose from, plus desserts and Mexican beer. As far as Hispanic communities "It is more for Americans, because the real stuff is really spicy. Hispanics like things like menudo, pozole, sopas, gorditas, and things that are more cultural", says Orlando Leon. Casa Brava's west side restaurant has seating for 75 guests. The pricing is very reasonable. A family of four could spend about thirty dollars there. Compared to other restaurants in Bloomington, thats a very sensible price!

Casa Brava is a Mexican restaurant located at 3482 W. 3rd Street in Bloomington. It opened in 2001 and is owned by the Montano family. The menu is almost exactly the same as La Charreada.

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