It could be said that Javier Moreno’s ability for running a Mexican food restaurant is in his DNA.
Consider that his parents, Roberto and Griselda Moreno, have both been in the restaurant industry for more than 20 years. Among other restaurant experience, they have owned Mamita’s Family Mexican Restaurant, 3020 New Center Point, going on 13 years. And it’s where Javier, the third child of four, has learned the ropes of running a thriving eatery.
Recently Javier, with his dad, opened Mezcalita Cocina y Cantina, 162 Tracker Drive (formerly Mama Pearl’s Cajun Kitchen).
“This location is much smaller than Mamita’s,” Javier said, “but we are serving some of the same dishes as our other location.”
Compared to Mamita’s colorful, fun, fiesta-feeling dining room, Mezcalita has a more contemporary, upscale interior. However, the food is as delicious as Javier’s parents’ popular eatery. And like Mamita’s, Javier will carry on the tradition of live entertainment.
If you have not dined at Mamita’s on a Thursday evening, you should. Go for an amazing meal and to be entertained by harpist Adrian Ramirez. He strolls through the dining space with his elaborate Mexican-folk harp, stopping by tables to play and sing. The night we dined he sang his Hispanic version of Frank Sinatra’s “My Way.” It was a classy touch.
Adrian Ramirez is a featured harpist-singer at Mamita’s Family Mexican Restaurant, on Thursday evenings.
Teresa Farney, The Gazette
We learned from Javier he will be featuring musician Linda Gutierrez at Mezcalita on Fridays and Saturdays. She strums her guitar and sings.
The hours at Mezcalita Cocina y Cantina are 11 a.m-9 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays and 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Details: 719-308-2596, tinyurl.com/a5nfvu9p.
Colorado Springs doughnut shop a sweet success | Table TalkBack to the beginning
In April of 2018, Dusty Hernandez, owner of Santana’s Vegan Grill, opened his first eatery in a former tiny drive-thru kiosk at Union and Academy boulevards to the joy of happy veggie eaters. He was credited with putting Beyond Burger, a plant-based patty, on the map as Colorado Springs’ first vegan drive-thru eatery.
His fast-food spot became the go-to for a meatless eater’s fix. So much so that by September of the same year he moved into a much larger sit-down restaurant at 3220 Austin Bluffs Parkway. He continued to win customers and became a frequent winner of The Gazette’s Best of the Springs for vegan dining. After all these years, Hernandez is making the business decision to reduce the footprint of his eatery.
“I’m moving to a much, much smaller place,” he said. “Going back to the simpler way I started out with a takeout operation.”
By downsizing he will reduce the price of leasing and have fewer overhead expenses. His plan is to be open at 5609 N. Academy Blvd. the first week of September. The hours will be 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sundays. Details: 271-9113, santanasvegangrill.com.
The Penrose Room at The Broadmoor reopens with reimagined elegance | Table TalkRooftop dance party
Here’s your permission to don your white sandals (after Labor Day) to match your all white (mandatory) outfit and kick up your heels at the Sunset Social Hamptons-style rooftop all-white party at COATI’s rooftop, 514 S. Tejon St., 6:30 p.m.-midnight Sept. 13. For $20 ($30 at the door) partygoers 21 and older get a glass of Champagne, White Claw hard selzer, swag bags and mini appetizers from COATI’s food hall restaurants. Also available will be permanent jewelry, live photography and a special surprise drop, and iHeartRadio will give away Empire of the Sun concert tickets. Of course, it goes without saying, you dance the night away to deep house music as the sun goes down with a sunset set from DJ Craft. Tickets at tinyurl.com/4ax428ys.
Pumpkin spice delight
The MilkShake Factory, 9291 Highland Ridge Heights, is gearing up for fall flavors with its limited-time Pumpkin Pie Spice Milkshake, for customers Sept. 15–Nov. 9. For $9.95 you get the creamy confection, which is a blended mixture of pumpkin puree, cinnamon and fall spices, and topped with whipped cream and graham crust sprinkles. The hours are 11 a.m.-10:30 p.m. daily.
The Milkshake Factory is offering a pumpkin pie milkshake for a limited time.
Courtesy Milkshake Factory
Details: 719-409-5995, milkshakefactory.com.
contact the writer: 636-0271.
Dining and Cooking