WASHINGTON TWP., Pa. – Whether you’re hungry for pizza and pasta or tacos and tostadas, a restaurant coming soon to Lehigh County will satisfy your cravings.
Mariachi Mexican Grill & John’s Pizza, a full-service restaurant offering freshly prepared Mexican and Italian specialties, is expected to open in late October or early November at 8016 Route 873 in Washington Township, co-owner John Garcia told 69 News.
Finishing touches are being put on Mariachi Mexican Grill & John’s Pizza, coming soon to 8016 Route 873 in Washington Township, Lehigh County.
Ryan Kneller
The renovated property, just outside Slatington, was previously home to Lighthouse Grille over a decade ago, Garcia said.
Garcia and his wife, Maria Garcia, in August closed their Villa Rose & Mariachi Mexican Grill restaurant on Route 309 in Schnecksville to focus their attention on the forthcoming Washington Township eatery.
For 15 years, the couple ran the Schnecksville restaurant, which had operated as just Villa Rosa for more than 20 years prior to their control.
The Garcias leased the Schnecksville space, and a desire to own a restaurant property of their own led them to purchase the Washington Township property in March.
Finishing touches are being put on Mariachi Mexican Grill & John’s Pizza, coming soon to 8016 Route 873 in Washington Township, Lehigh County.
Ryan Kneller
“I’m very excited to be opening this new restaurant because before we found this property, I thought I was done with restaurants,” John said.
“At our other location, the rent just kept getting more expensive, and it all got to be too much. So, I’m very excited that we were able to find a place that we can call our own. I know how to do a lot of remodeling work, like plumbing, electric and drywall, and so I did most of the construction and improvements myself.”
Mariachi Mexican Grill & John’s Pizza, with seating for around 120 guests at booths and tables with chairs, will feature new tile flooring, counters, wall paint and upgraded bathrooms, among other improvements.
Finishing touches are being put on Mariachi Mexican Grill & John’s Pizza, coming soon to 8016 Route 873 in Washington Township, Lehigh County.
Ryan Kneller
Some furniture and kitchen equipment from the Garcias’ former Schnecksville restaurant was installed, and a new walk-in freezer was also added.
Outside, upgrades include a newly painted facade, newly sealed parking lot and newly constructed storage building. A new well was also added directly behind the restaurant.
“We’re mostly doing finishing touches now and just waiting on the final paperwork from the [Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection] for the well,” John said. “In the coming weeks, I also plan to clean and paint the outdoor deck, which offers seating for an additional 70 guests.”
Finishing touches are being put on Mariachi Mexican Grill & John’s Pizza, coming soon to 8016 Route 873 in Washington Township, Lehigh County.
Ryan Kneller
Mariachi Mexican Grill & John’s Pizza will feature a “very similar menu” to the one that was offered at the Garcias’ former Schnecksville restaurant, John said.
Guests will be able to enjoy appetizers such as guacamole, quesadillas, tostadas and nachos (with topping options such as chicken, ground beef, chorizo, grilled steak and shrimp); and main entrees such as carne asada, chicken Mexicana (chicken sauteed and topped with pico de gallo and chipotle sauce, served with traditional rice and frijoles de la olla) and tacos as pastor (slow-cooked pork, simmered for hours in butter with mild guajillo peppers, onions, garlic, pineapple juice, light vinegar and spices, shredded and served with fresh cilantro and three warm corn tortillas, rice, beans and mild guacamole sauce).
Finishing touches are being put on Mariachi Mexican Grill & John’s Pizza, coming soon to 8016 Route 873 in Washington Township, Lehigh County.
Ryan Kneller
Other Mexican highlights will include a wide array of burritos, burrito bowls, chimichangas, enchiladas, fajitas, tacos and tortas.
There also will be combos such as the “El Carretero” (one cheese enchilada with red or green sauce, a beef or chicken taco and a chicken tostada with traditional rice); seafood selections such as “Camarones A La Diabla” (nine jumbo shrimp sauteed with butter, salsa, cheese and chipotle peppers, served with traditional rice and green salad); and desserts such as churros, flan and fried ice cream.
“We’ll have a lot of the same menu items that we had at our other restaurant, along with some new additions like surf and turf,” said John, referencing a new dish featuring carne asada and six grilled shrimp, served with rice and salad. “They’re all unique recipes, and everything is made fresh to order.”
Finishing touches are being put on Mariachi Mexican Grill & John’s Pizza, coming soon to 8016 Route 873 in Washington Township, Lehigh County.
Ryan Kneller
On the Italian side, guests will be able to enjoy appetizers such as garlic knots, fried calamari, pizza fries and mussels marinara; hot sandwiches such as veal parmigiana, eggplant parmigiana, meatball parmigiana and sausage and peppers; and pasta dishes such (served with cup of soup or salad and homemade bread) such as manicotti, meat lasagna, rigatoni primavera, fettuccine with alfredo sauce and cavatelli with shrimp in pink sauce.
Around two dozen chicken, veal and seafood platters will include popular picks such as chicken cacciatore, veal Marsala, lobster ravioli and shrimp Francese, and around two dozen specialty pizzas (available in small, medium and large sizes) will include selections such as bruschetta, margherita, German, Hawaiian, veggie and John’s Special (ranch dressing, diced tomatoes, onions and grilled chicken).
Other menu highlights will include a wide array of strombolis, cheesesteaks, burger platters, gyros, wraps, foot-long hoagies, club sandwiches, soups and salads.
Finishing touches are being put on Mariachi Mexican Grill & John’s Pizza, coming soon to 8016 Route 873 in Washington Township, Lehigh County.
Ryan Kneller
“It’s a great mix of two types of cuisines,” John said.
“At our other restaurant, I would often see couples enjoying their meals together, with one person eating fajitas and the other eating spaghetti and meatballs. More options mean more happy couples.”
Mariachi Mexican Grill & John’s Pizza, which has a tagline of “2 great tastes, 1 great place!,” will serve lunch and dinner seven days a week, opening at 10 a.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. Sundays.
The restaurant also will offer online ordering, takeout, catering and a private party room for up to 50 people.
Finishing touches are being put on Mariachi Mexican Grill & John’s Pizza, coming soon to 8016 Route 873 in Washington Township, Lehigh County.
Ryan Kneller
For more information, including menu details, visit MariachiMexicanGrill.com.
Dining and Cooking