Casa Pepe

“We immediately ordered some guacamole for the chips and it was made to order right at our table…wow was it good!”

“We had a great time and I will definitely keep recommending this place.”

“It's an average sized appetizer – I don't think it's for sharing unless you're saving yourself for an enormous main course.”

Casa Pepe

Takes Reservations: Yes
Delivery: Yes
Take-out: Yes
Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
Accepts Apple Pay: Yes
Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
Good for Kids: Yes
Good for Groups: Yes
Outdoor Seating: Yes
Has TV: Yes
Waiter Service: Yes
Caters: Yes

Price range.

$$ Price range $11-30

8 reviews

  1. My family and I used to go to Casa Pepe regularly, and had been doing so for decades.  We've watched it expand from small and humble space to a larger one with side rooms and decently sized outdoor patio and over these years it has changed quite a bit in terms of what they dish out to the customer.  We decided to visit the restaurant again after not doing so for what seemed to be a year and since we were starving, we ordered simple and quick dishes with no appetizers.  Enchilada plates and tacos, the simplest stuff on the no longer extensive menu.

    After about 25 minutes my Mother wondered where the food was and I had to agree so I checked with the waiter with a smile saying "so where is everything?"  His response was to point at customers who were there before us and a pair that arrived after and said "their waiting for food, their waiting for food, you're waiting for food".  This was kind of abrupt and would have been better accepted with "the kitchen is very busy this evening, we apologize".  Another 15 minutes went by and out came the food which was eaten in maybe 10 minutes based on how ravenous we were at this point.  Really Casa Pepe?  Almost 45 minutes for enchilada plates and a couple of tacos?  That was absurd.  

    It got better as our dish, called the "Enchiladas Suizas", didn't seem to have the guacamole that we remembered it having and when we asked for it the waiter said we don't get it with the dish.  My Mother said, "well perhaps after waiting just under an hour for the food that perhaps you would offer us some".  The waiter returned with the menu to point out that we were in error.  Come on now.  I guess they changed the dish because I remembered it as well, and now the place seems more interested in making the guacamole at your table as opposed to adding a small sample of it to their combination platters.  

    We ordered no desserts or coffees and couldn't wait to be done and gone.  As I we walked out my Dad spoke up and said I think the last time we went there were a number of issues as well and I continued to say and this might have been the reason for such a long avoidance.  What bothers me most is how this was a FAVORITE place of mine with numerous good memories and dining experiences.  To be waiting almost endlessly when the place was not even in the dinner service rush and then dismissed by staff makes me feel that I will not be coming there much more nor recommending it.  I guess all good things do come to an end.  Oh well.

  2. I really was not impressed with dinner here recently. If your guacamole that is prepared table side is the highlight of my meal then you understand.

    Yes the guacamole was delishious we asked for spicy, but it was really mild not even spicy. As we waited for our main courses that took some time to be prepared it just made me very hungry. I ordered the Chuleta which was like two one inch pork chops uncut and about two inches thick all total, with garlic mashed.

    When it was served it was not hot, like it was sitting on the counter barely luke warm. I am glad I didnt ask to have it reheated. Cause when I cut into this monster pork chop it was overcooked. I could only imagine if I asked to have it taken back to be reheated, would have needed a chainsaw to cut it.

    What a complete fail. I should have listened to the previous reviews on Yelp. But noooo my friends, girlfriend wanted to eat here…uggghhh!!!!

    Service was fine and attentive, but the cook really sucks and has no clue how to cook. Really they should just serve 2 sliced pork chops, size really does not matter as long as its cooked properly. Its like they will serve you huge portions to cover up the fact the food is not really good. Complete fail!

    I really would not recommend this place to my friends, but if you are my enemy or someone I dont like yes I would recommend that is how bad my meal was.

  3. My friend celebrated her baby shower celebration here so my husband and I came out to attend the dinner party. The restaurant didn't have any parking or valet options, so it took us a while before we found parking in the area.

    The place is pretty big and had a whole separate section for their party hall. My friend had a pre-selected menu from which we can choose from. We started off with some chips and salsa that were ok nothing great. Then the salad,  which was just salad! For the entree I had their chicken steak option from the menu while my husband opted for the chicken entree. Both were ok, nothing impressive.

    My expectations for the place were a lot higher so I was quite disappointed by their food quality. Perhaps not a place I would recommend if you're looking for authentic Mexican Cuisine.

  4. I come to Brooklyn every few years to visit family, and Casa Pepe is usually one of my favorite restaurants to go to.  They have been going there for decades.  As a general rule, the ambiance is fun, the servers are good, and the food is to die for– especially the seafood.  I was sad that on my last visit a few weeks ago, the food didn't live up to my fond memories.

    The chips and salsa were good and I was glad that the chips were warm, but the temperature-wise-hot salsa was a little bit odd.  My aunt and I split the mussels appetizer, and I'll admit it was delicious.  We also got the guacamole and it was good, but nothing spectacular.  They had a lobster 3-course special going on so of course I ordered it; the dressing on my salad was too vinegar-y.  The lobster was cooked in a peppery sauce and had great flavor, but was overcooked, making it difficult to get out of the shell.  My boyfriend had a salmon dish and really enjoyed it.  My aunt had the paella and said it was good, but her lobster was overcooked as well.

    Overall, I still like Casa Pepe and I'd likely go back, but I'm disappointed it's no longer as great as it once was.

  5. brunch is good, but Spanish brunch is better!

    $12.50 gets you a plate off the brunch menu and a drink (mimosa or Bloody Mary). I tried the bistec tapatio, which consisted of steak, an egg, yellow rice, and beans. 3 tortillas are also provided. the steak, though it was a bit small (I want to say 8 ounce?) was cooked well; the combination of the egg, rice, and beans perked it up nicely.

    we split an order of sauteed chorizo. a little more oily than normal, but tasty.

    my parents ordered Mexican coffee. this involves some neat showmanship from the waiter, as there's fire involved in the process. I won't ruin it, but alcohol + coffee + fire results in a cool show and a tasty beverage.

    for dessert, I had the bread pudding, which was really rich but not overly sweet.

    menu seems to be fairly priced, even the non-brunch items. bill was about $80 for the chorizo plate, 3 brunch items, 2 desserts, and 2 Mexican coffees.

    they have a bar area with some tables up front (it was the Sunday of the World Cup finale; the front was packed), a huge room in the back enclosed in a glass canopy, and a small outdoor eating area. also, there's a party room.

    I most definitely will return!

  6. Casa Pepe was one of the first searches that came up for Mexican food in the area.  Usually, I don't go to "upscale" Mexican restaurants, I usually just stick to places where I can get cheap, but yummy tacos.  The ambience was "upscale" but the service and food were not, by any means.

    Immediately, upon arrival, the host asked us if we had reservations.  There was definitely seating for two people, so I'm not sure why he had to check.  Anyway, we were seated immediately in the back area, which was really humid and probably supposed to be a backyard. What bothered me was that there were very few things on the menu that were vegetarian/vegan friendly.  I got the Burrito El Norte without sour cream, that was the only vegan thing I could order other than guacamole and maybe a salad.  We did order guac, and that was probably the best part of the meal.  They make it in front of you and it was really fresh.  However, for $10, they only gave us one avocado's worth, but still, it was pretty delicious.

    Now, our entree probably took about 45 minutes to arrive after we ordered.  20 minutes in our waitress assured us that our food was coming but it wasn't.  I don't really know how it would take 45 minutes to throw guac, beans, and rice into a burrito that wasn't wrapped (isn't it all premade?) and cook short ribs (which were a really popular dish) with mashed potatoes.  The family next to us had already gotten their food, eaten, and left by the time we got our food.

  7. MY LIKES:  Guacamole!!!! They make it fresh..
                        White wine Sangria
                        The multicolored Tortilla Chips!
                       
    MY DISLIKES:  The Shrimp dish I had wasn't too much of a winner.

    NEXTTIME:  I need to try the Paella!

    MY WISHES:  I should have ordered the Paella
                            I wish there was more fruit bits in the Sangria

    ATMOSPHERE:  Dimly Lit – A good date spot

    They do have a room that can be reserved for a PARTY!  I don't know the specs.  But when I attended a party here about 10 years ago, I believe there were at least 100 people there AND there was room for a dance floor.

  8. Came here yesterday on Cinco de Mayo with some friends that just moved to the neighborhood. They have a great outdoor seating area, service was pretty good and the drinks were good.

    I don't know if they inflated the menu for Cinco de Mayo, but the prices were outrageous, especially for the quality and the location (way out in Bay Ridge). The margarita pitchers were $40 and served about 6-8 SMALL rocks glasses. The Sangria pitcher was equal size and $30. ALL the entrees, enchiladas, fajitas, chimichangas were over $20… I thought that was very expensive, especially for a very casual setting with average food. The chimichangas were better than the fajita, which was better than the enchilada. Def do not go for the Enchilada, the corn tortillas were mushy, the chicken inside was cold and tasteless… Average at best.

    I'd go back on a day other than Cinco de Mayo and give it another shot, but I was not impressed the first time around.

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