In mid-2012, Missouri City residents Miles and Leslie Wade took ownership of Bravos Mexican Restaurant—a long-standing Tex-Mex restaurant in Sugar Land. They renamed it Casa de Bravos, or "Home of the Brave," and immediately revamped the menu to offer house made tortillas, hand-rolled enchiladas and a variety of fresh ingredients.

"Everything that we [cook] we start from scratch," said Miles Wade, who also works as the restaurant's executive chef. "What separates us is our commitment to using fresh, high-quality ingredients and our from-scratch cooking. We want to put out a great product—we call it 'food with integrity.' Our food is exactly what it is supposed to be—full of flavor. We want to be a blend of Tex-Mex and authentic Mexican dishes."

The new owners had their concept up and running by November 2012, and they have been working to expand their menu to match the tastes of new and returning guests.

"Being able to adapt and adjust is a big part of this business," Wade said. "We like to try out new things and feature them on our menu or as a daily special."

Some recent menu additions include the Menudo soup—a traditional Mexican stew made with beef tripe that boasts a distinctive "acquired taste," Wade said. The Seor Marks—two fish tacos with seared tilapia and grilled onions and avocado on the side—is named for a regular patron who enjoys more basic flavors.

"We are a very different restaurant today than when we first opened," Wade said. "We have a nice menu now, but there is more we can do."

Both Miles and Leslie Wade have worked in the restaurant industry for nearly their entire professional lives and have seen what works and what does not work when starting a new establishment.

"I started cooking as soon as I was tall enough to reach the stove," Wade said. "I like all cuisines, but I really enjoy the flavors of Mexican food. The flavor combinations and the authentic ways it is cooked—I really took to it."

Miles Wade has worked to make his expanding menu accessible to all dietary restrictions by preparing his sauces and side items with fat-free vegetarian ingredients. Several vegetarian and gluten free menu items are available, and everything from the refried beans to the vegetable stocks to the tortillas are made in-house from scratch, he said. The bar also offers a house sangria—a mix of wine marinated with blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, strawberries and oranges—that is prepared in a three-day process.

The Wades have made it their goal to not only provide fresh, affordable cuisine but to also raise the restaurant's level of community involvement. In the past year, Casa de Bravos has sponsored several athletic teams and community events and has held fundraisers for local organizations and groups, such as Fort Bend Habitat for Humanity and the Missouri City Little League.

"We are very community-minded, and we want to support as many local organizations as possible," Wade said. "It is important for any business to support the community that supports them."

The restaurant offers happy hour service, catering and a private party room. When it comes to expanding the Casa de Bravos name, the Wades said they first want to ensure that their Sugar Land location reaches its fullest potential.

"We are committed to this restaurant and making it a top-tier, well-respected restaurant in the community," Wade said. "My wife and I love what we do, and that makes it easy. We want to fill that niche as a neighborhood restaurant."

Owner recommendations

Miles and Leslie Wade expect to roll out a new menu soon with plans to add more seafood options, different soups and salads, and additional lunch offerings.

Lunch

Pancho & Lefty—A chicken taco al carbon and a tamale served with rice and refried beans ($5.95)

Lunch fajitas—A choice of beef, chicken or a combination of both served with traditional fajita fixings and house-made corn or flour tortillas ($9.95)

Poco Ritas—Miniature versions of the house, strawberry or sangria-blended margaritas ($1.99–$2.49)

Dinner

Enchiladas Abuelita—Carnitas, or shredded pork, slow cooked and rolled in a corn tortilla and topped with salsa ranchero and white cheese ($8.95)

Seor Mark's—Seared tilapia wrapped in a flour tortilla served with grilled onions and avocado on the side ($9.95)

4514 Hwy. 6

Sugar Land 281-242-2272

www.casadebravos.com

Hours: Tue.–Thu. 11 a.m.–9 p.m.

Fri.–Sat. 11 a.m.–10 p.m.

Sun., Mon. 11 a.m.–8:30 p.m.