Casa Tap House — Review by Randy Santel

The Dishes

The centerpiece of this challenge is the Big Mouth Burger, an absolute monster featuring eight quarter-pound patties of locally sourced Washington beef, totaling approximately two pounds of meat. Each patty is layered with a slice of bacon, two slices of cheese, house-made pickles, red onions, lettuce, and their signature sauce. Randy praised the beef as being made with love and noted that despite being a leaner 81/19 blend, each burger is smothered with melted butter to add richness. The bacon deserves special mention as it's a thicker cut than typical, with eight slices total distributed throughout the layers. The house-made pickles were notably thicker than store-bought varieties and added excellent flavor.

Beyond the base challenge, the optional items were equally impressive. The double dirty fries came in two orders and were loaded with approximately 12-13 ounces of adobo pulled pork that Randy described as fantastic, juicy, and tender. The fries featured three ladles of beer cheese sauce, a black bean red pepper roasted corn salsa, spicy mayo, provolone, and cilantro. The hot honey crispy chicken sandwich, one of their signature items, featured juicy chicken with hot honey coating and was paired with homemade Casa bread that Randy highlighted as a must-order. The homemade pretzel bites with beer cheese soup were excellent when eaten hot but became chewy if allowed to cool. For dessert, the double chocolate brownie featured melted, gooey homemade brownie with vanilla ice cream, hazelnut ganache, and salted peanuts.

The Experience

Casa Tap House is located in downtown Spokane and hosted a lively atmosphere with many supporters cheering Randy on throughout the challenge. The 45-minute time limit created an exciting competitive environment, with people gathered around rooting for Randy to beat Nathan Figueroa's previous record. The owner Julie was personally thanking participants, and the restaurant clearly takes pride in their Big Mouth Challenge wall of fame where successful competitors get their names and photos displayed. The crowd energy was enthusiastic and supportive, creating an engaging dining experience beyond just the food.

Value and Pricing

The Big Mouth Burger Challenge carries a $75 penalty for failure, with additional costs for the optional items if not completed. Success means getting the entire meal free plus a t-shirt and wall of fame recognition. For standard menu items, the restaurant appears to offer reasonable pricing for quality locally sourced ingredients and generous portions.

Notable Moments

This burger is made with love. So, kudos to the chefs.

The bacon's a little bit thicker cut as well. It's been awesome, the eight slices all throughout.

The Adobada pork on these loaded dirty fries is fantastic.

Randy finished all the optional items including chugging the Yaya Mexican Style Lager beer within 35 minutes and 18 seconds, beating Nathan's previous time of 29:44 for the base challenge alone. The victory was his food challenge win number 1383.

The Verdict

Casa Tap House is a must-visit destination for anyone in the downtown Spokane area looking for quality food and competitive eating challenges. Whether you're attempting the Big Mouth Challenge or simply enjoying their extensive menu, the restaurant delivers delicious locally sourced ingredients prepared with care. The tap house aspect offers a wide beer selection, and the homemade items from bread to brownies demonstrate their commitment to quality. This restaurant is best for those who appreciate generous portions, quality ingredients, locally sourced beef, or those brave enough to attempt one of the toughest burger challenges around.