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Casa Pepe is one of those restaurants that, plonked down in the middle of Cleveland, would make all local foodie guides. It has everything going for it: a "celebrity" chef, extensive menu that actually lists a number of good Spanish dishes, a viable Mexican roster, paella "family" events, even an enclosed back garden. It's too bad that, in my opinion, this place just doesn't cut it in New York (given I must be in the minority since Casa Pepe has been open a for a goodly long time and does just fine without my regular business). To start with, every single Spanish entree is much more successfully done elsewhere. Mexican dishes are also eclipsed, by Mexican-only places. The dining atmosphere is nice and I keep getting invited to family events at this restaurant, so they must be doing something right, but there is no reason why a middling quantity of guac and nachos should come close to $20. Mind you, none of it tastes exceptional -- chips look supermarket-bought and guacamole, while supposedly prepared table-side (ours wasn't), is so lackluster, I just wanted to smack it upside the head to instill some character into it. Entrees are also blah. Paella tastes like it should have spent less time in the pot (the rice was kinda soggy) and braised short ribs were so inferior to my own good-but-not-THAT-good version, I actually think the restaurant might serve them for a few days running, by just reheating the yesterday's leftovers. By the way, the waiter presented us with a check before we were finished with the last glass of wine and were contemplating ordering dessert. So, I have no opinion of Casa Pepe sweets: for all I know, they might compensate for everything else this restaurant lacks, but I seriously doubt it.