La Cocina • Round Rock
La Cocina • Round Rock
Written by Beth Wade Friday, 03 October 2008
La Cocina may look like a typical Tex-Mex restaurant, but the combination of Italian and Mexican cuisines is anything but ordinary. The entrance to the restaurant is similar to other Mexican eateries, but once inside the two cultures are brought together with bright colors and beautifully painted murals.
Owners Ismael and Amelia Diaz, both from Mexico, moved to California where Ismael worked in a high-end Italian restaurant in Brentwood for many years. In 2007, the couple moved to Round Rock and decided to open a restaurant that brought together their heritage and Ismael’s newfound love of Italian dishes.
While there are menu items like the Italian Enchilada ($5-$9), a handmade crepe wrapped around a generous portion of ricotta cheese and drenched in marinara sauce. The owners keep the distinct flavors of the two cuisines separate. Ismael’s daughter Lissette helps run the restaurant on a daily basis. She said keeping the flavors separate is important, because some of the flavors would not work well together.
The Italian Enchiladas tasted and looked similar to manicotti; however, the texture of the corn tortillas added an interesting twist.
The meal began with free chips and salsa. The salsa was spicy and full of crisp cuts of chilies and onions.
My friends and I started by ordering a helping of chili con queso with meat ($4.50, $5.50 with meat). One of us ordered a barbacoa taco ($2.25) to start his meal. The meat was slow-cooked with garlic and oregano and served in two corn tortillas with onions and cilantro.
After a short wait, our food came to the table. The servings were large, and we had plenty of leftovers.
We easily adjusted from the Mexican taste of chips and salsa to the Italian spices of lasagna ($10). All of the food was delicious and the portions were generous. The pasta was cooked al dente and held up well with the meat and ricotta cheese.
We ordered the Enchiladas Suiza ($7.50) because they came highly recommended by the waitress; it did not disappoint. Instead of using a traditional sour cream base for the sauce, Diaz makes the sauce with half and half, which allows for a creamier taste.
To finish the meal, we had the Spumoni ($4), an Italian dessert with pistachio, chocolate and cherry ice cream. The ice cream was sweet and did not leave us feeling overly full. Other homemade dessert choices included flan and cheesecake.
The restaurant also has a full service bar and breakfast menu.
La Cocina
The restaurant’s name translates to "the kitchen." Lissette Diaz said the family chose the name because any type of food can be made in their kitchen.
La Cocina, 602 McNeil Road, Ste. 112, 716-1703, Mon. 11 a.m.-9 p.m., Tue.-Sat. 8 a.m.-9 p.m., Sun. 8 a.m.-2 p.m.
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