Casa Maya
Reviews
Name: Paul Goss
Occupation: Cookie Distributor
Lives In: Coral Springs
Restaurant Pick: Casa Maya
Reviewed Casa Maya: 09/05/10 at 5:30pm
Easy to find in the Cove Shopping Plaza on the Intracoastal Waterway and just blocks from the beach, we roll right in before heading down to the beach to chill as the sun sets. Walk in; grab a nice round table for five while waiting for friends to join us. Casa Maya is warm and comfortable, with some authentic Mexican art along the walls along with some pretty cool perforated metal light fixtures. The server brings us three containers of salsa with warm chips right away. The salsas are all excellent, including one that is almost like a scoopable corn relish, very unique and tasty!!
Our friends arrived and we ordered white sangria which was refreshing and bright, went down nicely. I had the ceviche, which was outstanding. A very generous portion served in a larger margarita glass, with the primary components being a pristine dolphin and shrimp. Super fresh with a nice bite that really worked well with the citrus and cilantro. Next I ordered the Grilled Stuffed Poblano Peppers, my absolute favorite item that I have tried here so far. Two whole Poblanos with about one third sliced off with stems intact. They are then nicely char grilled and then stuffed with a mixture of dolphin and shrimp then topped with a Mexican white cheese. They melt the whole thing and serve atop very good rice along with outstanding finely puréed refried beans. My wife ordered the Pescadoro Vera Cruz, which is a really large piece of grilled dolphin topped with a sauce of roasted tomato and lots of shrimp, again really good and really fresh.
We finished with an order of Flan which was good, the best part being the caramelized almost chewy top. While desert is not a big deal here, they only offer two, a Guava Cheesecake and the Flan it certainly satisfies the sweet tooth one might have.
Name: Lisagaye Tomlinson
Occupation: IT Operations Manager
Lives In: Fort Lauderdale
Restaurant Pick: Bizaare Avenue Cafe
Reviewed Casa Maya: 09/10/10 at 7:30 p.m.
I was not sure where the restaurant was located but as the street address drew me nearer to the Cove Shopping Plaza, I was a bit concerned. The plaza’s namesake, The Cove, is a very popular bar and restaurant on the intra-coastal and Hillsboro Boulevard. I’ve had the displeasure of driving around for twenty minutes trying to find a parking place. I was able to find parking behind the restaurant after only a couple of minutes so the stress immediately disappeared. I saw a couple of tables on the sidewalk to accommodate outside seating. My friend and I were greeted by a server and brought quickly to a booth. We were quickly greeted by a basket of warm chips and two salsas. The servers, who were all ladies, wore lovely embroidered Mexican blouses. We took a little extra time deciding on what to eat because many of the dishes were appealing. I did not feel rushed to order, which was good. My eyes began to wander around the room. I had already noticed the beautiful hanging lamps upon entry to the restaurant but then I had some time to take in the art and wall colors. When we first came in, the piped music was quite loud. I believe another patron requested it be turned down a bit and the manager quickly obliged. I was glad to have gone during the evening. The lights inside were dim and the hues reminded me of the lighting inside the Mexican pyramid at Epcot; that was always my favorite “country” to visit .
Our server happily answered our questions about the menu and our order was placed. I faced the rear of the restaurant in my booth and noticed a back room with a man tuning a guitar. I wasn’t sure what the area was but later discovered it was a bar area for live music, though I do not think a bartender was present. The performer played popular songs on his acoustic guitar but I could not hear him that well because of the piped house music playing synchronously in the dining area. The food was well-timed and we were given plenty of time to finish our large appetizers. Though I did not order it, I tasted my friend’s chicken tostada, which was excellent. My friend could not stop raving about it; she had one beef and one chicken and following, concluded both would have been enough as a meal. The fish ceviche, ordered as my appetizer, tasted as I expected it would and I was quite surprised at the large portion of fish it contained for only $10.00. The fact that they use real lime juice in it is important to me. I’ve made the mistake of having ceviche at a couple of places that used bottled lime juice which to me is unacceptable. I thought the portion was good enough to share but perhaps too large for one person.
My dinner of soft tacos with sour orange marinated pork loin with pickled onions and cilantro, served with Mexican yellow rice, salsa, and pureed black beans was very tasty; I only wish I had room to eat more of it. The food was served hot and all of the flavors on the plate- the salsa, the pickled onions and beans, and the sour orange- blended very well together. I am a “big” sauce person. I love fresh, house-made, sauces with lots of character. There was even an extra sour orange wedge, which I squeezed willingly onto the pork loin in my tacos. I had the intention of trying the flan for dessert but I just couldn’t fit it into the meal plan that evening.
I like the fact that patrons get a lot of food for a nice price. I can tell that they only use fresh ingredients, which can make or break a little local place like that. I didn’t have to wait long for the check once it was decided dessert would not be had. This would be a nice place to go on a first date too!
Name: William Farrugia
Occupation: Firearms Instructor
Lives In: Lake Worth
Restaurant Pick: Rock ‘n Roll Ribs
Reviewed Casa Maya: 09/11/10 at 8pm
As we walked up, we could tell this was a popular place. There were tables outside on the patio for people with dogs or wanting to smoke. Inside was in full swing with three parties ahead of us waiting to be seated. We grabbed a seat at the bar while waiting for our table. The host checked in, updating us on the expected wait and offering drinks. After about a fifteen minute wait, we were seated at our table and our drink order taken immediately. Our server was very friendly and anticipated our needs. The food came out quickly and well-timed. We never felt as if we were waiting on anything, or rushed to finish any of the courses. We could not find fault with any of the food other than the Ceviche was a little spicy for my personal taste. With the limited dessert menu, we were not expecting to be impressed. The Guava Cheesecake was a pleasant surprise and we devoured every morsel despite being quite full from our entrees. Casa Maya Grill offers fresh food and authentic flavors at a great value. I would recommend it to others and will return when dining in the area.
Restaurant Information
Location: 301 SE 15 Terrace Deerfield Beach Fl 33441
Parking: available
Phone: 954-570-6101
Website: casamayagrill.com
Restaurant Owners: Emilio Dominguez
Executive Chef: Pascual Pech
Pastry Chef: n/a
Type of Cuisine: authentic Mexican cuisine
Signature Dishes: grilled stuff poblano peppers, mole rojo,
Vegetarian Options: spinach enchiladas, vegetarian burrito
Alcohol Served: wine and beer
Corkage Fee: $8
Bottle Limit: n/a
Restaurant Hours:
Monday – 11:30 am – 10 pm
Tuesday – 11:30 am – 10 pm
Wednesday – 11:30 am – 10 pm
Thursday – 11:30 am – 10 pm
Friday – 11:30 am – 10 pm
Saturday – 12 :00 pm – 10 pm
Sunday –12:00 pm – 10 pm
Meals Served: lunch and dinner
Prix Fix Menu: yes private eventsTake-Out: yes
Delivery: catering
Average Dinner Price Range (per person, full meal, tax, 15% gratuity, w/o alcohol): $16
Average Lunch Price Range (per person, full meal, tax, 15% gratuity, w/o alcohol): $10
Payment Options: do you accept credit cards and if so, which ones? Visa
Accept Reservations: yes
Need Reservations: party 6 or more
How far in advance do you require reservations be made: same day
Accommodations for Children: yes
Dining Style: casual
Disabled Access: yes
Restaurant Size: 80 seats
Accommodate Groups: yes
Private Dining Room: yes
Tables with Scenic Views: no
Outdoor Dining: yes
Entertainment: yes, weekends only