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Cascabel Restaurant, located in the charming foothill town of Angels Camp, is a wonderful Mexican restaurant that happens to be inside a historic building, in the historic heart of downtown. Cascabel Restaurant features lots of foothill charm, along with outstanding food, amazingly friendly service and makes for fine dining in California's gold country. As with all of reviews that I publish, I have no affiliation with the restaurant reviewed, and there is no monetary gain on my part, as I am simply a person who likes to eat, and I love to write-up, and publish my dining experiences.
Photo: It's a little after noon on Friday, September 06, 2019, and I've arrived in downtown Angels Camp, CA at Cascabel Restaurant, and I'm looking forward to a great Mexican lunch. The restaurant is located in a historic building, and has a tiny front to South Main Street. If you're familiar with downtown Angels Camp, you'll note that Cascabel is located next to Angels Creek Cafe, where I plan to visit next time I'm in town.
Photos: The dining room is large, very open, and tastefully decorated in a mostly historic decor. You'd hardly know you're in a Mexican restaurant if it wasn't for the delicious smell, and a few sombreros hung on the wall. I was surprised when I entered the restaurant at how large the dining room is, considering the small facade.
Photo: After I was "meeted and greeted" by friendly Jessica, I was given a basket of fresh tortilla chips, and a bowl of salsa roja, which the menu describes as "chunky roasted tomato." The salsa was fresh, made in-house, and the chips were warm and fresh as well. Of course a bottle of Pacifico beer made for a frosty cold appetizer.
Photo: I focused on the "A La Carte" section of the menu, and when I spotted fish tacos, I was hooked, complete with hook, line and sinker.
Photo: Jessica tends to business at the bar, in the back of the dining room, where there are several American beers on tap, and Mexican beers in the cooler. Note the fine selection of wine, as the gold country, along with Calaveras County is noted for the many fine wineries that dot the landscape.
Photo: Looking out the window in the front of the restaurant at South Main Street, framed by historic artifacts from long ago. Angels Camp started out as a mining town, as the town is located in California's gold country, also known as the "Mother Lode."
Photo: Meet Jessica, my super friendly server, who brings my lunch to me with a smile. Her service was simply outstanding, and she treated me like family.
Photo: Thanks, Jessica, for taking my photo, as I get ready to enjoy a lunch of two delicious fish tacos, chips, salsa and a beer.
Photo: My complete lunch of two amazing fish tacos, a basket of fresh tortilla chips, two varieties of fresh, in-house made salsa, and a Pacifico beer. Such a great lunch! The menu describes the fish tacos as "Two fish tacos, drizzled with garlic sauce, and topped with cabbage, cilantro and onion." I describe them as delicious... It had been a couple of months since I'd had the pleasure to enjoy fish tacos, so when I spotted fish tacos on the "A La Carte" section of the menu, I was hooked. I was not disappointed, as these fish tacos are a good as it gets, and reminded me of the fish tacos I've eaten during my many trips to Baja California, Mexico. Each taco began with two medium size - not "street taco" size - corn tortillas that were toasted, to bring out the rustic flavor. Two very large, battered pieces of fish were placed on the tortillas, and garnished with crema, chopped cabbage, along with diced cilantro and white onion. Two wedges of lime completed the taco plate, which not only enhanced the flavor when squeezed on the tacos, but added to the beautiful presentation. Cascabel Restaurant is very generous with the fish, as each taco had a LOT of fish! The fish was perfectly battered, deep fried to a golden brown, and crunchy on the outside, and tender white inside. The fresh cabbage - not lettuce as commonly found north of the border - along with the cilantro and onion were super fresh and delicious, and the crema - the menu refers to it as "garlic sauce" - brought it all together and made for wonderful fish tacos. One bite of these delicious fish tacos took me back to the malecon, in Ensenada, Mexico, where over the years, I've eaten many fish tacos. The fish tacos served at this fine restaurant are simply delicious, and they're authentic Mexican! During my lunch, Jessica asked if I'd be interested in a bowl of fresh, in-house made jalapeņo salsa. How could I resist such an offer? The salsa roja that came with the tortilla chips was delicious, but the jalapeņo salsa was simply amazing, as it was fresh, flavorful, spicy, robust, and medium spicy hot. Jessica warned me that it was hot, but to me it was just right. Like the salsa roja and the chips, it was complimentary.
Photo: Close-up of two of the best tacos you're going to find in Angels Camp, or all of Calaveras County! It's been a long time since I have had the chance to enjoy fish tacos with such truly authentic Mexican flavor and of such quality! My lunch was simply amazing, the atmosphere was both comfortable and historic, and Jessica's friendly service really made for a pleasant dining experience. When you're visiting Angels Camp, and you're in the mood for great Mexican food, head over to Cascabel Restaurant. Cascabel Restaurant Copyright(c) 2019 eRench Productions. All rights reserved. We've been on the web since December 22, 2002.
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