GRAND RE-OPENING CASA MENDOZA
By Stephanie Dickison (Dine.TO)

After being in the restaurant business much of her life, Teresa & Nancy decided it was time for a change in décor for Casa Mendoza. So she went straight to the experts – The Food Network’s “Restaurant Makeover” – and had them make changes to the dining room.

Gone are the pale walls, wood chairs, exposed brick posts and typical Spanish design, though the original look has been kept for the restaurant’s entranceway. The upscale look of black tiled pillars, onyx padded seats and carpeting and white hot chandelier really update the room.

Along with redoing the interior, the menu has been given a little lift, with the addition of exciting new menu items thanks to Lynn Crawford, the highly acclaimed Executive Chef of the Four Seasons.

Although the food served at the restaurant is wildly popular (apparently the recipe for the Cajun mayonnaise that accompanies the calamari is ask for constantly), the new items are smart choices for this menu (It being an Argentinean Steak & Seafood restaurant) and well executed.

The Grilled Veal Chop and Grilled Rib Eye are both soft and tender and come with a chipotle BBQ sauce or Chimichuri sauce. And the new side dishes are fresh and nicely complement the meats and the new Grilled Striped Bass. The Ratatouille is vibrant, with the vegetables having maintained their crunch and the Sweetcorn and Chorizo Succotash is both fresh and spicy, adding a nice dimension to the mains.

The old menu items still remain, so if you still crave your usual order of Shrimp in Garlic Butter and Fettuccini Lobster Alfredo, don’t worry. And yes, the Mendoza Mixed Grill for Two is still available (Two Filet Mignon, Lamb Chops, Pork Tenderloin, Spicy Chorizo Sausage, Chicken Breasts and Grilled Vegetables with Roasted Garlic Potatoes).