I Miss Su Casa

J Merlo's Su Casa was tucked unobtrusively in an older shopping center—Princeton Plaza—in Springdale.

Su Casa quickly became one of my favorite Mexican places. Fresh salsa—oniony, tangy, not overly spicy, free of the gloppy stewed texture of cheap chain salsa. Moist, tender rice that had an almost eggy quality, the perfect complement for the rich ranchero sauce. Soft, melty, white chihuahua cheese instead of the usual Tex-Mex varieties. Fantastic lunch specials, with $5.95 buying a large meal indeed. Among my favorites: huevos rancheros, beef enchiladas, and the dense, compact chicken chimichanga.

I showed up for lunch one day and bam, they were closed. I must have been away for a couple of weeks and missed the announcement. Still hungry for Mexican, I went to Don Pablo's. The less said about that the better.

The good news: a place called Blue Agave is moving in. I'm hungrily awaiting its debut.