The latest roommate of ACTION Theatre’s two story pre-war bungalow is Casa Latina. Occupying the entire first floor, the restaurant has a charming alfresco bar area which brings back fond memories of the days of Indochine’s occupation. Once inside, the requisite bright hues and dark wood give an immediate feeling of ease and comfort, in addition to the warm and hospitable staff made us feel right at home. With their bold claim of being an authentic Mexican restaurant and bar, we were hungry to put them to the test. In true Latin fashion, we kicked things off with a frozen strawberry margarita. It was a little on the sweet side for our liking, but pleasantly fruity nonetheless. A dish that really stood out for us was their Casa Latina melted cheese. It certainly made quite the entrance. Served in a hot stone pot, Mexican bearded cheese sizzled in a green sauce made from garlic, onions and tomatillos (green tomatoes imported from Mexico). Now the fun part: Scoop up as much or as little (trust us, the more the merrier) as you like, slop it on a warm tortilla, then roll it up into a log and enjoy. Our main, the Las Carnitas, was a generous portion of Michoacán-style pork confit. Unlike the usual shredded version, this one had hearty chunks of meat. This is served up with corn tortillas, pico de gallo (diced red tomatoes, onions, serrano chilies and tons of cilantro), spicy carnitas sauce and wedges of lime. While the pork wasn’t the most tender we’ve had, the accompaniments exploded with bold and fresh flavors. The pico de gallo was so zingy and addictive, we were dousing our carnitas with it. We’ll be back to try their spicy margaritas made with chili-infused tequila, which comes in flavors including guava, mango, ginger and even bubble gum. You can also swing by for their three-course lunch set menu, a bargain with coffee or tea.Have you tried the Casa Latina Melted Cheese? It’s one of I-S Magazine’s 50 things to eat in Singapore before you die (2010).
