Half the fun of catching a movie at the Manor Theatre is deciding where to eat first — and, on Murray Avenue, one is spoiled for choice. Within a few blocks, you can dive into hand-pulled noodles, argue the Mineo’s-versus-Aiello’s pizza debate, grab Korean barbecue, hang out over coffee or browse at a bookstore before the previews begin. Now, there’s another stop on that dinner-before-the-movie circuit — and it’s right next door to the Manor Theater itself. Less than a year after opening at 1731 Murray Ave., Casa del Tequila has brought a full-service Mexican restaurant to the neighborhood.
Casa del Tequila is the Spot for Mexican Cuisine in Squirrel Hill
Owner Onys Gutierrez opened Casa del Tequila with business partner Hector Marcias after spending more than two decades at Tres Amigos in Indiana, PA. The two-story restaurant, which occupies the former Warehouse Grub & Pub space, is a complete departure from its previous life. Bright murals, colorful overhead lamps, carved wood accents and a tequila-lined bar replace the old pub aesthetic; Latin music fills the room. Before you’ve had much time to study the menu, baskets of warm chips and salsa are already on the table.
What’s on the Menu at Casa del Tequila?
You’ll need a minute with that menu, though. With more than 100 items, Casa del Tequila embraces the traditional approach of a neighborhood Mexican joint. There are birria tacos served with rich consomme; sizzling steak, chicken and shrimp fajitas; chile colorado; carnitas; enchiladas; chimichanga; and combination platters for diners who’d rather sample a little bit of everything. House specialties include the Pollo Palapa — a grilled chicken dish topped with Mexican chorizo, sauteed peppers, onions and cheese sauce — and housemade pork tamales. (Finish with the housemade flan.)
Seafood receives more attention at Casa del Tequila than at many Mexican restaurants around town. Camarones a la Diabla, garlic shrimp, shrimp fajitas, seafood burritos, seafood chimichangas and a traditional Mexican shrimp cocktail each have a place on the menu.
Behind the bar, an extensive tequila selection is anchored by classic, Cadillac and prickly-pear margaritas, alongside Mexican beers and cocktails that fit naturally into a dinner-before-the-movie routine.
Perhaps the biggest surprise is the value. Lunch specials start around $10, while most dinner entrees stay in the mid-teens. Portions are generous — often generous enough for tomorrow’s lunch — and the vast menu makes it just as easy to stop in for a quick weekday meal as it does to settle in with friends before a Friday night movie.
Story by Aakanksha Agarwal
Photo by Sean Collier