Casa Linda Cafeteria closes abruptly

by Teresa Gubbins

DALLAS — Casa Linda Cafeteria, known for its homey cakes and pies and its signature baked squash casserole, closed abruptly on Monday.

Neighbors saw a note announcing the closure tacked to the front door. Calls to the restaurant were met with a recorded message stating, "We're sorry but we have permanently closed. We want to thank all our great customers for a wonderful 10 years."

Located at Casa Linda Plaza in White Rock Lake, the cafeteria was independently owned and served as a neighborhood hangout and meeting spot for organizations such as the Lions Club. As noted in the DBJ, the menu consisted of homestyle favorites like pot roast, mashed potatoes, and chicken and dumplings.

AmREIT, a Houston-based real estate company, acquired the Casa Linda shopping center in December and is initiating a $5-million renovation.

One worker at an adjacent business in the shopping center speculated that the cafeteria's management may have balked at signing a new lease. "Everyone here is having to talk to the new owners," he said.

Coincidentally, Franki's Li'l Europe, another restaurant in the center is also closed, but temporarily. A recorded message announces that the restaurant has been closed since Jan. 10, for "unexpected renovations due to a plumbing leak from the day spa above us," with a re-opening slated for the beginning of February.

Todd Maternowski contributed to this story.

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Anonymous

Alan Cohen, says:

This is awful - it was bad enough when they moved the best cafeteria food ever from the multiple Highland Park Cafeteria locations to the sole Casa Linda location, but at least it was still available somewhere.

Staff

2 years, 10 months ago
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acevola, says:

this really sucks!

Anonymous

2 years, 10 months ago
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lakewooder, says:

East Dallas is getting too upscale for cafeterias, the Real Estate people keep saying.

I say I could use some good smothered steak (and Wyatt's baked eggplant).

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2 years, 10 months ago
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Oilwelllady, says:

Where do we go to get our comfort food now? This is so sad. I will miss the spinach salad, the ham & all those delicious desserts. The other restaurants in Casa Linda are so hum hum. A person could eat at Casa Linda Cafeteria everyday & never get tired of it.

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2 years, 10 months ago
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Gego, says:

Yep, very sad. Can't help but feel that the new center owners carry some blame. I expect it's due to "money, money, money". I will find it hard to shop Casa Linda center.