When Robin Krause opened her new restaurant at Corinth Square, she wasn’t just expanding her restaurateur portfolio. In a sense, she was also coming home.

Krause, after all, is a Prairie Village native. She graduated from Shawnee Mission East, just north of Corinth Square on Mission Road. Now-closed Mexican eatery Salty Iguana is where her son got his first job.

In a full-circle moment, customers have once again been enjoying dishes like fajitas and tacos and sipping margaritas in the former Salty Iguana space. This time, though, the recipes are Krause’s.

Her new Mexican-inspired concept, Casa Ama, opened this month in Prairie Village.

Casa Ama opened at 8228 Mission Road

• The restaurant took over a space on the eastern end of the Corinth Square, just off 83rd Street and Mission Road and near Va Bene Italian Eatery and SPIN! Pizza.
• Salty Iguana occupied that space for more than 30 years before its closure in early 2025.
• Casa Ama is open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday.

Casa Ama serves “mindful” multicultural cuisine

Though Casa Ama pulls most of its inspiration from Mexican cuisine, some Mediterranean and Asian influences are sprinkled throughout the menu.

As an avid traveler, Krause used past trips to different coasts to shape the menu.

She also worked alongside chef Anourom Thomson eatery (of South Asian eatery Anousone inside Strang Hall in Overland Park) to come up with dishes like the pork belly noodle salad.

Marie Effertz, director of marketing and brand strategy for Casa Ama, said that dish has already been a hit amongst the restaurant’s earliest customers.

Other popular items so far include the street corn caesar salad, fried branzino, fajitas, chicken caesar smash tacos, and pollo en mole.

On the libation side, Casa Ama also serves a variety of agave-centered cocktails, including “casa-ritas” (Casa Ama’s take on margaritas).

Though Casa Ama is closed on Sundays for now, it will later roll out a weekend brunch too. The restaurant also plans to offer catering and private events, with a private event space dubbed the Agave Room for parties and gatherings.

The restaurant’s name loosely translates to “the house that loves” in Spanish. Though it’s only been open for a couple of weeks, Effertz said the community already seems to be feeling that love.

“From day one it has been very, very busy, and we’re so grateful for that,” she said.

More is on the horizon for Casa Ama’s owner

Krause founded Billie’s Grocery, known for organic healthy eats like wraps and salads, in Kansas City, Missouri roughly six years ago.

Billie’s Grocery also has a location at the Ranch Mart North shopping center in Leawood. Next year, another one will open at the Bluhawk development further south in Overland Park.

As for Casa Ama, Effertz said it’s too soon to tell where growth will take it. But whatever is in store for the Mexican-inspired concept, if early reactions are any indication, things are looking good.

“We’ve just been so fortunate to have such a huge welcome from the community,” she said. “We feel really gracious and thankful that our clientele has been so awesome.”

Want more food and drink news? Kansas City-based eatery Billie’s Grocery targeting Overland Park location