New open-air palapa restaurant in Lomas del Centenario delights visitors with creative food and amazing views.
By Fern Corraini
Perched atop the highest hill in El Centenario, overlooking the Bay of La Paz, is La Casa del Bagre, a great new addition to the local dining scene. Serving up creative, delicious food and cocktails under a huge palapa, with a view of the bay shimmering below, La Casa del Bagre has quickly developed a loyal following among El Centenario residents.
Owner Walter “Bagre” Graen has long considered himself to be a “foodie”, and he and his partner, Teresa Arredondo, are passionate about sharing creative, delicious food sourced from local ingredients. Their goal is to make people happy, and since opening seven months ago, they’ve been doing just that. While growing up in La Paz, Walter’s friends thought he looked suspiciously like a catfish, and gave him his nickname “Bagre”. Following his high school years in San Diego, Walter spent summers cooking on yachts and winters building surfboards. Eventually his parents gave up on the idea of Walter going to college and invested his college fund in the construction of La Casa del Bagre. You’ll be glad they did, because Walter is an excellent host: friendly, likable and easy-going. He and his team, both family and staff, will make you feel right at home in their “casa”.
Based on the season, the market, and his own creative fancies, Walter keeps his menu focused and fresh, using local ingredients, from-scratch cooking, and creative flavors to ensure you a special gastronomic experience. The small but well-thought-out menu provides a variety of unique choices focused on Mexican food with international flair. Walter likes to take a Mexican staple and elevate it to a unique fusion meal, and the results are a pure delight.
On our recent visit, we sampled the Mexican Gordita, with house-smoked beef and masa made from pure ground corn, a rarity in Mexico these days! Also a favorite with customers are the beef rib tacos that are often on special, and the Taco de Chicharron de Atun, a Mexican/Asian fusion dish with amazing textures and flavors. The Smashburger is a tender and juicy take on an old favorite, served with a side of crispy fries.
Breakfast is equally creative and delicious, including Walter’s gourmet twist on chilaquiles; a fancy avocado toast with arugula, cherry tomatoes and goat cheese drizzled with balsamic vinegar; and sourdough French toast with berries.
While the food is elevated, rest assured the atmosphere at Casa del Bagre is friendly and casual. The huge palapa protects diners from the elements while providing an amazing view from every table. There is also a bar with seating, in case you just want to wander in to sample one of the restaurant’s creative cocktails and chat. The Passion Fruit Margarita gets two thumbs up!
Reservations are recommended for dinner, as the well-spaced tables can fill up fast, especially on weekends. Call ahead to reserve your spot, then head up to watch a perfect Baja sunset and try one of La Casa del Bagre’s special cocktails. As Walter says, “Come and see. I won’t disappoint. I promise.”
To get there, head up Calle 13 and turn right onto Calle Biznaga. La Casa del Bagre, with its beautiful palapa, will be on your right between Calle 15 and 16. Look for the surfboard sign out front.
Contact Info:
- Owners: Walter Graen y Teresa Arredondo
- Address: Calle Biznaga, between Calles 15 and 16
- Hours: Wednesday-Saturday: 8:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m, & 5:00 p.m.-11:00 p.m. Sunday: 8:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.
- WhatsApp: 612-231-7145 (reservations recommended on Sundays)
- Email: graen.surfboards@gmail.com
- Facebook/Instagram: https://www.facebook.com/lacasadelbagre; @lacasadelbagre
