Norwood News

Presentation, as evidenced by the décor and obvious pride with which the food is prepared and served, is important at La Familia Mexican Restaurant and Bar in Norwood.

This relatively new restaurant, located at 334 E. Gun Hill Rd., a couple of blocks west of Webster Avenue, strives to accommodate patrons and succeeds in creating a warm and welcoming environment. For example, insisting that tap water just wouldn’t do, a staffer ran next door to get an ice cold bottle of water for me on my second visit. 

The narrow dining area is painted in soothing terra cotta. Dark and shiny wooden tables are surrounded by glass-backed chairs. The wooden bar is mirrored and features a variety of beer and wine selections as well as a flat-screen TV (which typically shows Telemundo sports for the working men taking a lunch break).

That day’s lunch was tacos: the chorizo (Mexican sausage) and carne asada. Beautifully displayed with lime and radishes, the soft tacos came double-wrapped in melt-in-your-mouth corn tortillas. Each was filled to the brim with meat and topped with bits of crispy lettuce, onion and tomato (chopped into the smallest pieces imaginable) and carefully dressed in a light cilantro and vinegar dressing.

La Familia’s chorizo is cooked like crumbly ground beef, different from, and more lean than, its West Texas counterpart, which tends to be more like chunky sausage. The spicing of the chorizo is robust and intense. The carne asada was a mixture of chorizo and very tender and thin pan-fried pork. Both came with salsa verde, a thin, yet spicy, spring green sauce that you can drizzle over your meal. And you should, it produces tons of good spicy flavors.

The chicken soup, which I also tried, is just as good. A rich broth, topped with bits of cilantro, is home to a chicken leg and thigh, lots of thick cut carrots and potatoes, a little celery and green beans, and half an ear of corn. It’s served with a small platter of finely chopped sweet onions, parsley and lime, along with corn tortillas.

From breakfast to fruit shakes and juices, the menu is fairly extensive. There are also Ecuadorian options, such as guatita, a tripe stew in a potato peanut sauce and seco de pollo, a chicken soup made with vegetables and beer.

Ed. note: La Familia Mexican Restaurant and Bar is open seven days a week (hours may vary) and offers delivery and catering service. The phone number is (718) 515-9848.