On the east end of Dolores, a new Mexican restaurant beckons diners with authentic food served up in a family-friendly atmosphere.
Montezuma Mexican Restaurant is the longtime dream of brothers Juan and Isidro Jimenez, who remodeled the old Hollywood Bar into a welcoming slice of old Mexico.
“We noticed there are plenty of Southwest-style restaurants, but not a real Mexican food restaurant,” said chef Isidro Jimenez. “We bring the flavor and traditional recipes.”
The large menu of enchiladas, burritos, tacos, fajitas, fish and shrimp dishes, chorizo, chile rellenos, and more is served up in large portions at affordable prices.
“Our food is made fresh from scratch, with family recipes from the Jalisco region,” said Juan Jimenez.
The menu includes some of the classic dishes the brothers grew up on, such as Arroz con Pollo, tacos Cabron and the Plata Vallarta.
“I want people to try the different dishes. They will love the variety of flavors and leave happy,” Isidro says. “The way we prepare the food sets us apart — the marinating, the spices, the fresh ingredients. We don’t take shortcuts.”
Upon entering, a vibrant mural of a traditional Mexican village life greets customers. In the large dining area, they are instantly transported back to Old Mexico, surrounded by the aroma of home cooking, friendly service and Mexican music.
“It’s really delicious Mexican food, a lot better than I’ve had in other places,” says regular customer Lowell Beatty. “I’ve eaten here 10 times in three weeks!”
Montezuma Mexican Restaurant has a full bar, and there are daily drink and food specials.
“We named it Montezuma because we want to serve the whole county,” Juan Jimenez said. “We cater to locals with affordable prices and specials because the support of the local community is key to our success.”
The restaurant is located at 18398 Highway 145, and is open every day from 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. The phone number is 970-676-0043. Specials and pictures of menu items are posted on their Facebook page at http://bit.ly/MontMex
jmimiaga@the-journal.com
