Photo by Amy DenneyOwner Guadalupe "Lupe" Barragan and his family own both Casa Chapala restaurants. The new location at 9041 Research Blvd. features a "cata" or tasting room for patrons to try more than 200 varieties of tequila.
Growing up in Central Mexico, Guadalupe "Lupe" Barragan worked in the fields of the blue agave plant, which is the base ingredient in making tequila.
Now Barragan has taken his knowledge of the harvesting, distilling and producing tequila to his newest restaurant, Casa Chapala Mexican Grill and Tequila Bar, which opened March 21 at 9041 Research Blvd., Ste. 100, after relocating from Anderson Lane.
The Barragan family first opened the restaurant seven years ago after moving to Texas from Central Mexico. It owns another location on San Jacinto Boulevard in downtown Austin.
In this new location, Barragan said they added a "cata"—a tasting room, from the verb to sample—to allow patrons to try more than 200 varieties of tequila. The bar area features chairs made from repurposed barrels and table for tastings.
