Hidden in plain sight: La Casita del Sabor

After a blogging hiatus, I decided that I needed a study break so I decided to follow up on my friend LB's suggestion and try a small restaurant called La Casita del Sabor in the Parkville neighborhood of Hartford. The exterior of the restaurant does not make it easy to locate for the untrained eye, but if you have been to Barca around the corner, you probably already know where this little gem is hidden. Just pull into the gated parking lot and look to the left for the small white house. The restaurant is filled with a handful of tables, painted in cheery colors, sparkling clean and run by a friendly couple who are more than willing to answer any questions about the menu, which by the way is printed in both spanish and english. Quite helpful for those non-bilingual folks such as myself. I started my experience with one of my favorites, a passion fruit smoothie. Tip: you can have them make it with milk or water. I always recommend milk, it's creamy and holds the flavor better. 

Then decisions needed to be made about the food. I was completely torn as to go with papusas stuffed with cheese and/or meat....or the grilled chicken. Went with the grilled chicken and was glad that I did. The portions are GIGANTIC and there was enough food for me to pack up and eat for dinner. Not bad for $12! 
It came with rice and a side of beans, salad replete with avocado..yum and my choice of green or yellow plantains. Heavenly. 

My friend ordered the fried fish, which was accompanied by the same items as my entree. The fish, which I believe might have been a snapper...comes whole. Just to be clear for diners who may be conditioned to expect a filet, this means, bones, head, tails, eyes, etc. 

All in all, we decided that La Casita del Sabor was going to be added to our list of regular haunts. For informational purposes...there is a separate menu for the smoothie choices, and the restaurant does appear to offer a beer menu as well. 


Location: 1405 Park Street, Hartford, CT
Phone: 860-951-7187