Sitting on the rooftop terrace, I absorbed the views of the Bridge of Lions, the Matanzas River, and the tops of palm trees and red Spanish tile roofs. Casa Reina, or the Queen’s House, serves up these wonderful vistas with a dash of history in its landmark building. Constructed as the home of a Maine hardware merchant and his wife in about 1900, the building, resembling an expansive hacienda, whitewashed and with arches and black lanterns, has seen many lives, including as a hotel, offices of a developer, and headquarters of American Legion Post #37 before morphing into Casa Reina.

Now, this outstanding restaurant offers a menu inspired by Mexican, Latin American, and coastal Floridian cuisines. Enjoy the entire experience inside, with its wood ceilings, fireplace, and tilework, or take a spot in one of the multiple outdoor seating areas on different levels, and then prepare yourself for an exceptional meal.

Try This: Start with a creative cocktail, or better yet, sample some tequila from the massive selection, including a couple of flights. Then order the delicious sopes, traditional Mexican corn cakes, served with avocado, pico de gallo, Mexican crema, and chipotle cream sauce. For your main course, don’t miss the pan-friend grouper with a tequila lime cream sauce, pico de gallo, cilantro, and a scoop of fresh guacamole, accompanied by black beans and white rice. Finish it all off with crispy flash-fried churros, sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar and served with Mexican chocolate for dipping.

 

 

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