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| - UPDATE: I was not able to log in to YELP so I had to create a new account. Here is my candid, honest UPDATED Casa Nayarit review:
The most accurate way to describe Casa Nayarit is a somewhat authentic Mexican restaurant which takes many liberties with the Pittsburgh palate. Judging from their true Mexican dishes Casa Nayarit deserves at least 3 stars, however, the noticeably compromised menu with many mild, bland dishes drops their authenticity and limits their overall rating in my mind.
The legitimate authenticity in part: decor, price point, their salsas (tomatillo is roasted and very, very good though their roja is way too mild - catering to the area), dishes such as bistec a la mexicana, tampiquena, molcajete, camerones diablo, carnitas verde, carnitas ranchero, carne asada, enchiladas verde, tacos de pescada, huevos a la mexicana, & the friendly native language Spanish employees and more.
The standard Americanized liberties: flour tortillas as the default option, giant burritos (burritos are not a true Mexican dish but places like Juarez will serve a version due to the blurring Tex Mex lines in Northern Mexico), hard shell tacos, no lime wedges, lettuce and cheese as taco toppings (that is a BIG no-no, they should at least give customers a Mexican option with cilantro, onion and radish), no Jarritos, cheese smothered over a lot of their food, tortillas with melted cheese dip, as well as some other things on their menu.
All in all, Casa Nayarit is a mid-Atlantic Mexican restaurant who must make financial ends meet hence the mostly understandable decisions to cater to all clientele. They USED to do a very good job, mostly, in using fresh, quality ingredients while trying to balance some of their root cuisine with a heavy Tex-Mex influence and food American palates are accustom to eating. HOWEVER, as of late their food has been substandard taking MANY short cuts. Also, their food's flavors are firmly on the mild side. I have been a customer around 30 times and ordered a large part of their menu. I USED to leave pleased with taste of their dishes much more often than not though they are much, much more hit and miss (mostly miss) now. I still wish they would add more spice to some of their traditional, genuine Mexican dishes. Having written that, they do have more than their share of the Hispanic community who eat in their restaurant. That community seems to order a Molcajete. It is an amazingly tasty, super flavorful, unique dish made in their own certain way served in a traditional molcajete. Its almost a cross between Texas fajitas and Mexico City's tampiquena.
For the most part, if you want AUTHENTIC, KNOW what you are ordering, and are very specific you may be pleased. If you think you know authentic and order chips with cheese or a fajita burrito you will still be happy because the quality for that kind of palate is generally pretty good. If you just want Americanized Mexican they have a BIG place on the menu for you too. This is a nice, semi authentic restaurant (but please add soft corn tortillas as standard) on the verge of taking too many Tex Mex chances which distance themselves from their true Mexican roots.
Food comparable to: El Campesino but somehow with a more home style yet less authentic feel. Recommended but YMMV.
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