MORGAN HILL
– The wait is almost over – Morgan Hill residents will be able
to enjoy the Mexican food, famous margaritas and festive atmosphere
of the Sinaloa Cafe when it opens for lunch on Tuesday.
MORGAN HILL – The wait is almost over – Morgan Hill residents will be able to enjoy the Mexican food, famous margaritas and festive atmosphere of the Sinaloa Cafe when it opens for lunch on Tuesday.
A fixture in Morgan Hill for more than 40 years, the restaurant owned by the Peña family has been closed since the summer of 2002, when it was destroyed by a fire. Owners Steve Peña and Ofelia Peña McCain, along with their mother, Mary, have been planning since that time to reopen the restaurant, but have run into one problem after another.
Finally, on Wednesday, the new incarnation of the restaurant, the former Maurizio’s, located downtown at 17535 Monterey Road, passed the final health inspection, to the relief of the Peñas, and the restaurant was signed off by the city Thursday morning..
“Mom’s in the kitchen cooking,” McCain said. “We’re getting ready for Saturday.”
The staff will have training Friday and Saturday, McCain said. The family had hoped to open on Saturday, for Valentine’s Day, but instead will have a private, invitation-only dinner, then open for business on Tuesday.
Sinaloa will keep its regular hours: Saturday and Sunday, open from noon to 9 p.m., closed on Monday, open Tuesday through Friday from 11:30 a.m. until 9 p.m.
McCain said the entire kitchen crew is returning, the bar crew is returning, and the restaurant will have some new faces as servers.
The menu will not change, including traditional Mexican dishes such as tamales, enchiladas, tacos and burritos, a selection of wines and Mexican and domestic beers and of course the famous margaritas.
“We ask the public be very patient in our early days,” McCain said. “This is a different kitchen operation, with one kitchen instead of two, but we hope it will be a very efficient kitchen.”
McCain said the Peña family is very happy to be opening again.
“We really want to thank everybody in the community who’ve supported us through all of our struggles,” she said. “We’re looking forward to just seeing all the faces of Morgan Hill. It is very moving to know that so many people care about what is happening with the restaurant and with us. They’re not only our customers, they’re our friends, and we look forward to welcoming them back into our home.”
The original Sinaloa Café, opened in 1960 by Adolpho Peña, was burned – virtually to the ground – during an early morning fire in the kitchen on June 29, 2002.
The family managed to save a portrait of Adolpho, who died in November 1999. After his death, the café was run by his widow, Mary, and her three children, including Rosalie Peña, who was killed in a car accident in August.
After the fire, the Peña family publicly pledged to reopen the restaurant. The original plan was to rebuild in the same location, but financial complications made the family look for other options.
Steve Pena has said the family still plans to build on the original property, but is not sure when.
