Sandra Fernandez, owner of this family run restaurant, takes great pride in all the hard work it takes to create authentic Mexican dishes from fresh ingredients. A native of Autlan, Jalisco, hometown of Carlos Santana, Sandra has always had a flare for food and dramatic creations. But her dream was to open a restaurant that would bring simple yet delicious tastes to Richmond. Hence, Cazuelas Grill was born 1998.

“As soon as the many regular walk in the door, our courteous staff knows what dish to serve them,” Sandra says. Indeed, many of Cazuelas’ patrons are regulars who make the trip to this wonderful restaurant several times a week.

Cazuelas Grill opens its doors at 8:00 AM to serve traditional American and Mexican breakfasts. From Eggs over easy to Huevos Rancheros con homemade chorizo, you’ll find yourself wanting to stay for lunch maybe dinner.

The lunch and dinner crowds are always ready to order the delicious daily specials, menu entrees or if in hurry, a healthy burrito filled with freshly made Carne Asada, Pollo a la Parilla, Spicy Chicken(hot and spicy), al pastor or vegetarian filling. Menu entrees include delicious fire roasted Chiles Rellenos, made from scratch, pork carnitas, slow roasted everyday, Flautas, a variety of Fajitas, Enchiladas, the traditional Soft Tacos, Chicken Mole whose wonderful sauce is made from dried red chiles, pumpkin seeds, orange peel and spices. Carne Asada and Pollo a la Parrilla are favorites, especially when accompanied with freshly made corn tortillas. Cazuelas Grill tortillas are hand-made with ground corn masa and baked to perfection on a hot flame grill.

Weekends are especially busy because this is when you can find those hard to find specialty dishes reminiscent of small town get-togethers. “My mother enjoys cooking what we playfully call Mexican soul food,” says Sandra, referring to authentic Pozole and Birria ‘estilo Jalisco’. These are delicious soups and stews made with achiote paste and other secret spices and herbs. The aromas alone are enough to remind you of lazy Sundays in Mexico.

If seafood is your craving, you must try to fish ceviche, a nicely chopped white fish fillet marinated in lime juice and complementary spices. You haven’t lived without having tasted whole fried red snapper  or sautéed shrimp covered with a delicious spicy-garlic sauce called ‘ a la diabla’. For hot days try Cazuelas Grill’s shrimp cocktails, mixed seafood cocktails with oysters, octopus and shrimp. If you are a purist, oysters on the half shell are a must. Here, you will also find that hard to get seafood soup, Caldo Siete Mares, a delicious concoction made with king crab, mussels, shrimp, scallops, octopus, and fish. “This is one of our biggest sellers,” Sandra is happy to report. And we agree.

Cazuelas Grill has a salsa bar unequaled for files around. It is stocked with every traditional salsa you could want from Pico de Gallo to hot and hearty red salsas. You are sure to find the right salsa to add just the right accent to heat to your meal.

So on your next trip to Hilltop Mall, just follow your nose and heart to Cazuelas Grill for a wonderful Mexican culinary experience. And remember that if you are not now part of the Cazuelas Grill Family, you soon will be!