Casa De Bandini at The Forum

I usually don't appreciate full service Mexican restaurants because in CA and NV, we have some of the best mom and pop Mexican food joints.I really enjoyed my time here. The service is fantastic and the portions are delicious and HUGE. Come hungry or be ready to take food home with you.I had the taco sampler because I couldn't imagine rice and beans with big portions. Both were delicious. I'm a carnitas guy, but here.the carne asada was better. The carnitas was no slump, the asada was just extra delicious.My wife had the cilantro shrimp and the chicken enchilada combo. The shrimp was perfectly seasoned and cooked. The chicken enchilada was pretty good. Might be because everything else was good, that it didn't stand out much.Washed it all down with a large sangria and a Paloma.Def some good ways and drinks.

The festive environment at Casa de Bandini puts a smile on my face. I love their colorful table cloths and cute fiesta style.Sadly, the food was awful.Yesterday I came in for lunch and ordered a chimichanga with vegetables instead of meat. The giant plate came with a burned chimichanga, a dried out bowl of beans and a tiny bit of lettuce shreads made with the core of the lettuce.The mango chamoy margarita tasted like salt and I could not taste the tequila. I could not drink it.At first the chimichanga seemed to be stuffed with only beans, but then I got a goopy vegetable mixture that was predominantly celery. I think they put some cold veggie soup in my burrito. I only ate 4 bites of it and was vomiting 2 hours later.On top of that I came in after walking in the sun for 2 hours and asked for water and it was gone within 5 minutes and we were never offered a refill.I would definitely avoid this restaurant.

I love CDB, it's a spot I choose never I'm in the area. They have good chips & salsa and margaritas! Not to mention ruin the mariachi's!! Visited in a Friday night before dinner rush, it was packed but we got lucky and didn't wait long. We were seated within 15 minutes of arrival and chose to sit inside, we were served and greeted by pleasant hostess/ servers. Ordered drinks before entrees. Entree options:Seasonal vegetable fajitas w/ rice and beans and Chili verde w/ rice and beans, and Modelos.My veggie fajitas were so good with achiote sauce and guacamole! I will order this again!Chili verde was also flavorful, our visit was just as good as the last time. The ambiance was upbeat and lively with mariachi music, a great start to our date night.

This is a nice Mexican restaurant complete with a large patio and nice outdoor ambiance with birds singing and water fountains. It's got a true Mexican feel. They are generous with the chips and salsa but the salsa is bland. I got a shredded beef taco plate. I was underwhelmed by the flavors of everything. I didn't get a margarita maybe I'll try that next time if there is a next time.

Never unhappy coming here. The wait is long but so worth it. The whole family ordered different enchiladas and we loved them all. And obviously you gotta order a marg!

We were looking for a Mexican restaurant with a nice ambience. This restaurant exceeded our expectations! We sat outside right by the water fountain, and it had a mariachi band and twinkle lights. Our kids loved it! The chips and salsa were both so fresh with just the right amount of spice. I ordered a large margarita and it was as big as my head! No complaints here. we started with the queso and it was a huge portion as well. It was pretty good. I got the flautas and they were incredible! My mom got the enchiladas, husband got the fajitas and my kids got chicken tenders and fish sticks. Everybody raved about their meals. If I lived here, this would be a staple in my restaurant repertoire.

We first came here with friends who live in the area. This is their "go to" spot for Mexican food, and now it has become our favorite as well. We took our out-of-town guests here after a long day at the SD Zoo. It was a Monday evening, and a wonderful feeling it was to arrive without seeing a huge wait outside. We were greeted with a friendly smile and seated right away (yay!). When our guests saw that they made the tortillas fresh inside, they knew already this place was legit and it was about go down! We all came hungry! LOL. Started with their "Clooney" Cadillac, which was absolutely perfect. I always try not to get full off their chips, salsa and guac, but they're all so yummy!Our table was full of fajitas, fresh tortillas, and enchilada combos, which were all absolutely delicious! I personally couldn't delve from my norm, which is the soft taco sampler (comes with 4 mini street tacos), which was overflowing with carne asada and carnitas, my fave and so full of flavor!All in all, our bellies were happy! This place was the perfect ending to a wonderful day spent in SD. CHEERS and happy eating till next time!

The best salsa in town! Fresh and the perfect combination of spice and zest, super authentic and just plane addicting! My husband loves their margaritas as they are plentiful and use fresh lemon and lime juice. The main dishes are large and packed with traditional flavors and combinations. They serve both red and green Spanish rice and I absolutely LOVE the green Spanish rice! If you're in for healthier dishes they have options available! I love how they offer wild caught salmon and the service has always been flawless. Fast and friendly! We have been here over twenty times and the servers have never made a mistake with our orders. The ambiance is traditional Mexican old world charm. There is plenty of seating for everyone as this place is big! Homemade tortillas made inside, fresh to order! While this place does not have the best Mexican food, it is definitely the best Mexican food in Carlsbad. Make sure to call ahead and put yourself on the waitlist before you go as this place gets packed! :)

THE best Mexican food in all of North County San Diego. This is out go to spot and it never disappoints. This location is beautiful and has a great outdoor seating area. Seriously, this place is the best and you should try it out. They have S/M/L margaritas too. Chips and sauce and a great starter, but watch out, they are so good you might get full too early.

Heap another 5 star onto the pile. I've been going yo Casa since they were an Old Town Mexican restaurant and it's still very good. Ambiance is great - decorations and art are nice. Service is fine, we had some gaps in our waiter's memory but that didn't snuff out the flame of a good dinner.Good stuff here. Enjoy your meal!