D'Castellanos Mexican Cuisine
St Paul, MN 55127-2340
Phone: (651) 426-5303
- Price:
- $$
- Hours:
- Mon-Thu 11am-9pm, Fri 11am-10pm, Sat 8am-10pm, Sun 8am-9pm
Editorial Review for D'Castellanos Mexican Cuisine – by Amy Goetzman
The Scene
It's a mystery: How did one of the Twin Cities' most unique and authentic Mexican restaurants end up in a suburban business development surrounded by big boxes and chains? White Bear Lake just got lucky, it seems. D'Castellanos serves excellent Mexican food in a comfortable, festive dining room run by friendly, bilingual staff who can guide newcomers through a menu that ventures far beyond burritos.
The Food
If you can resist the basket of hot tortilla chips, the appetizer list offers a refreshing seviche of tender white fish with a sprinkling of lime and cilantro, or chilapitas--tasty little cornmeal boats filled with beans and topped with queso fresco. From there, the menu launches into an assortment of uncommon delights, such as pina rellana--shrimp, scallops, fish and octopus baked in a cheese-topped pineapple. Sopa de mariscos (seafood stew) boasts a smoky tomato base. Familiar enchiladas arrive swaddled in red chili or green salsa.
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Insider Tips
When to GoCharming old downtown White Bear Lake is a unique shopping destination; add dinner at D'Castellanos to make it a day trip.
What to DrinkA limited wine and beer menu is available, along with sunny margaritas. The fresh-blended pineapple margarita is especially good.
The ExtrasHouse salsa is flavorful but lacking in firepower. However, there's a secret vat of the hot stuff in the kitchen--just ask.
User Reviews for D'Castellanos Mexican Cuisine
08/28/2007 Posted by mmie22818
I loved this restaurant. Almost everything we had was excellent. They have a very interesting menu, with many items you don't expect to see at a Mexican restaurant. There were eight of us, so we tried several items. The paella was great (yes, paella), as were the taco salad, quesadilla, guacamole, and chicken fajitas. The many seafood items on their menu are also very popular. The flan was the best I've had. I also heard from someone else that the paella was the only paella they have liked outside of Spain. The chile relleno was kind of mushy, but that was really my only complaint. They had 99 cent margaritas that night, and even they were very good!! The service was excellent, with extra attention to the kids (bringing coloring books and crayons, and being very understanding, even when my daughter spilled chocolate milk everywhere). Our server was Jason, who was great. Definitely ask for him if he's available. He went above and beyond in ensuring we had a wonderful evening, and was extremely helpful and friendly. His recommendations were all just as he described. He even brought my 7-year-old daughter back into the kitchen for a tour when he heard she wants to be chef when she grows up. We also met the owner, Carlos, who was very friendly and welcoming and seemed geniunely happy to meet us and chat. The decor is comfortable and attractive, and they definitely go the extra mile to make their customers happy. We sat on the patio for a bit after dinner and it was great -- very relaxing and pretty. I think it's a shame that this restaurant is hidden back from the road -- I hope more people find it. Try it!!!
Pros: Service, food, ambience
Cons: Somewhat hard to find but worth it
05/18/2006 Posted by mikecho
Like most people, I will try a restaurant twice since they can have "off days". Well, the service here was horrible twice. For example, I had to ask for everything such as refills for water and more salsa. It took them a while for me to order my food and the food came out seperate from my wife. It was not busy that Tuesday night. My order was screwed up and the food was only so-so not worth waiting for.
Pros: Nothing!
Cons: Bad Service, Bad Service, Pricey
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