Hidalgo Grill Mexican Restaurant is Open
Hidalgo Grill Mexican Restaurant is Open
Ellicottville Welcomes Brand New Restaurant on Main Street
The Hidalgo Grill Family. Photo / Jessica Schultz, ellicottvilleNOW
For Jessica Quijano-Fuentes and her family, opening their restaurant in Ellicottville is more than a new business venture - it’s a dream come true! “My dad has worked with his family in the restaurant industry for many years,” Quijano-Fuentes explained. “He always wanted to own his own restaurant.”
Not only has that part of the dream come true, but so has the location of this restaurant. The family, who lives in Springville, has always enjoyed visiting Ellicottville, and were thrilled when an empty storefront became available. Hidalgo Grill, located at 32 Washington Street, is open daily for lunch and dinner, and their delicious menu is not to be missed!
Last week, Hidalgo Grill celebrated their grand opening and welcomes everyone to their bright, inviting location! Not only has the response from customers been positive, but so has the response from the Ellicottville business community. “This is such a great community to be part of,” said Quijano-Fuentes. “Everyone has been so welcoming. This is a great atmosphere - everyone has been very friendly.”
Quijano-Fuentes, who is from North Carolina, and her parents, Proto Quijano Morales and Ines Fuentes Munoz, who are originally from Mexico, all work together in the restaurant, along with Quijano-Fuentes’s siblings, John and Anjolyna. The family spent approximately three months working on their location painting and preparing to open this summer. “Knowing about all of Ellicottville’s annual events and festivals has really helped give us an idea of what to expect,” she explained. “It helps to know what we need to do to be ready for this time of year.”
There’s something for everyone to enjoy on Hidalgo Grill’s large menu, which is full of dishes that Quijano-Fuentes’s father has many years’ experience in preparing. Menu items include tacos, fajitas, quesadillas, burritos, enchiladas, salads, and more. Fillings include meat, shrimp, and veggies for a range of dietary preferences. “My dad brings his own unique flavors to these recipes,” she noted. “We’re looking forward to adding more of our own signature dishes to the menu soon.”
One of the most popular menu items so far – and Quijano-Fuentes’s favorite – is the Burrito Tri-Color. Served with rice and sour cream, this burrito is stuffed with grilled chicken, steak, shrimp, peppers and onion and is topped with salsa verde, red burrito sauce and cheese sauce. As Hidalgo Grill awaits their liquor license, they serve a variety of non-alcoholic beverages including soft drinks and specialty drinks, like Jamaica and Horchata. “Jamaica is a tea made from the hibiscus flower,” Quijano-Fuentes explained. “Horchata is more of a milky consistency with a cinnamon flavor. I had a table of people say that it reminded them of Christmas!”
Hidalgo Grill’s full menu is available on their Facebook page: Hidalgo Grill Mexican Restaurant. The restaurant is open daily for dine-in and takeout from 11:00am-9:00pm Monday through Thursday, 11:00am-10:00pm Friday and Saturday, and 11:00am-8:00pm Sunday. “We want to make everyone feel welcome,” said Quijano-Fuentes. “We want people to know that they’ll always enjoy a friendly atmosphere when they come in.”