Table for Tara: LuLu’s Casa El Camino

Table for Tara is a column by Tara Gilts, sharing her dining experiences and takeaways from Athens County eateries.

ATHENS, Ohio — Locals know El Camino by another name: Lulu’s Casa, where fresh, hearty entrées and a welcoming atmosphere create a warmth that embodies se siente como en casa—it feels like home. 

There is a pleasant predictability that most Mexican restaurants in southeast Ohio provide: You’re always greeted with a basket of bottomless chips and a vessel of salsa, you’ll surely find fajitas and white, drippy cheese dip on the menu, and you’ll be awed by the speed by which your meal arrives. Lulu’s Casa has all of that, but Lulu’s also has Lulu Lopez, her son Joshua, and an unwavering commitment to her late husband Juan Lopez’s vision and legacy. They provide a dependably friendly and family-focused dining experience with offerings that embrace fresh, authentic Mexican flavors. 

Open daily for lunch and dinner in Athens, the vibrant eatery has comfy booths and tables that can accommodate multiple generations of a family. Each visit, we were seated immediately, greeted by an attentive waiter, and handed a menu brimming with options.

The Poblano SP JJ, a special named after dish creator Juan Jose (JJ) Lopez, was a standout: a poblano pepper filled with your choice of grilled chicken or steak, onions, sour cream, and cheese, served with sliced avocado, rice, and tortillas ($16.99). The mini churros dessert our table of five shared was a sweet finale to a satisfying dining experience: six (we counted seven, our lucky day!) warm puff pastry sticks served with vanilla ice cream and topped with whipped cream and drizzles of caramel and chocolate syrup ($6.99).

Three vegetarian diners (a toddler, a child, and an adult) enjoyed a few of the vegetarian offerings: fajitas, with a robust variety of freshly grilled vegetables; children’s macaroni and cheese served in a crock; and a thick cheese quesadilla. Other notable entrees included the Enchiladas Supremas (four! rolled tortillas and accoutrements for $12.99) and the Street Tacos: marinated pork and chopped pineapple on corn tortillas, with sides of cilantro, onions, lime, and a house-made hot sauce ($13.99). Each entrée is served on a giant platter to accommodate the generous portion size, and most meals are served with rice and beans. 

The establishment is intentionally BYOB to create a family-friendly atmosphere for patrons and foster a positive work environment for staff. It may also be why the bathrooms are so impeccably clean. You may carry in beer, or the beverage(s) of your choice, and the waitstaff will provide you with a frosted mug or glass for your drink. 

Lulu and Juan were living in Virginia when they learned from friends that a shuttered Mexican restaurant in Athens was available to new owners. They opened El Camino in 2016.

The name of the restaurant came to Lulu in a dream. Juan had selected a different name, but when Lulu described her dream — a serene walking path, lined with flowers and a tree canopy — El Camino — he agreed that it was a fitting name. They didn’t know until they arrived that the establishment was beside the Hockhocking Adena Bikeway. When Lulu saw the path, she said it was beautiful, just like her dream. 

Lulu focused on the front of the house. Her hospitality and genuine connections with customers led patrons to affectionately call the restaurant Lulu’s Casa. The moniker was cemented by a thoughtful surprise that Juan orchestrated. When Lulu returned from a visit to her mother in Mexico, she discovered a big, bold Mother’s Day gift from Juan: He had hired a muralist to paint Lulu’s Casa and a rendering of Lulu on the building. 

While the building bears her name, Lulu said that the restaurant is truly Juan’s: It was his 30-years of experience in the restaurant industry, work ethic, and commitment to quiet, honest leadership that made Lulu’s Casa El Camino successful. He passed away in 2020.

Although it was his dream, Lulu, her family, and her team are continuing Juan’s legacy daily on East State Street. 

“It is important to me that Cesar, my nephew, and Grecia, my niece, and our team … are also mentioned. Without my cooks and workers, it would not be possible for Lulu’s Casa to continue,” she said. 

5/5 Stars.