Beginning Sept. 12, Robbins residents will have a new restaurant to frequent. Able Vasquez, Joanna Benitez, and their chef, Santos, are excited to welcome the community to Mexico Dorado.
The grand opening will be held Saturday at noon at 400 N.C. Highway 705, in the storefront that was previously Omar’s.
The trio said the idea sparked at their church, Saint Juan Diego Mission, also located on Highway 705. Able’s family serves food at the church every eighth Sunday, and other churchgoers would joke that they should start a restaurant.
The jokes turned into a real conversation between Able, Joanna, and Santos. They spoke with Robbins Town Hall, along with Omar, to buy some of his kitchen equipment, signed the lease, and jumped in.
When asked how they came up with the name, Able credited his sister with telling him to think outside the box. They went back and forth about the name but ultimately settled on Mexico Dorado because the tacos Santos makes have that “golden color, nice and crispy,” and Dorado translates to “golden.”
They wanted something memorable that would roll off the tongue: “Let’s go to Dorado’s tonight.”
Running a restaurant is a first for the owners, and they want to do right by the town, asking that everyone be patient with them as they learn and grow. They want to expand their options as they discover what the community wants to see more of. They opened up the floor space a bit more, with bigger tables to accommodate big families so that everyone can enjoy themselves.
Able told Sandhills Sentinel that he was most excited about serving and making people happy.
“If I can see a smile on someone’s face when they come in the door, then that would make me happy,” he said. “I’m excited to serve people and see familiar faces. This restaurant is like my baby.”
They hope to make the space one where you feel welcome and where guests feel at home. One idea is to have a keychain wall, where people can hang up keychains they may have from different places they’ve traveled. They will have a jukebox, as well as a photo wall near the entrance.
The menu includes authentic Mexican cuisine at affordable prices, as well as beer and margaritas.
The plan, at this time, is to stay open seven days a week.
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~ Article and store photos by Sandhills Sentinel reporter Megan Hall.
