Text and Photos
By Deb Patterson
InkFreeNews
MENTONE — Jackie Dominguez seized the opportunity when the former Teel’s Restaurant downtown Mentone became available and opened El Toluco Mexican Restaurant. A formal ribbon cutting by the Mentone Chamber of Commerce and a grand opening was held Saturday, May 25.
Located at 108 W. Main, the restaurant opened for business three weeks ago and has been well received by the community.
Dominguez is no stranger to the restaurant business. Prior to opening El Toluco, she operated a food truck by the same name at Auto Zone, Warsaw. She also operated Molcajete in Leesburg and restaurants in Albion and Lafayette.
“I like being in the small town,” she stated where her customers are like family and where “we know each other.”
Currently living in Warsaw, Dominguez is trying to move to Mentone.
El Toluco is a family operated business. Her daughters help out along with friends. Daughter Liz Dominguez is also the creator of the cookies available at the restaurant.
Currently the restaurant has a staff of eight. “We need more for the amount of business we’re receiving, especially with summer,” said Liz Dominguez, who is one of the four you will see helping customers. There are four other family members and friends taking care of the food preparations.
Guests at El Toluco will find the restaurant brightly decorated with walls painted in pink, yellow, red, green and orange. The walls are accented with sombreros with scarves and various authentic Mexican items along with Latino themed banners strung from the ceiling and Latino music softly playing in the background.
What really will catch your attention are the tables, chairs and booths. Each one has been imported from Mexico, hand painted, hand carved and decorated.
The food, all authentic Mexican dishes, are kept mild in flavor, letting the customers add the spiciness on their own with the restaurant’s popular hot sauce.
The menu is vast. There are different types of appetizers including nachos, dips, salads, tacos, and vegetarian options. There are seven house specialties, numerous fajitas, sizzling steaks, seafood platters, chicken options, chimichangas, enchiladas, burritos and quesadillas.
If you come for lunch, there are various lunch options, lunch specials and a la carte items. There is also a kid’s menu.
If you’re still hungry, there are several desserts to choose from. Not only is there soft drinks, teas and milk available to quench your thirst, El Toluco also carries a wide variety of Jarritos — Mexican pop.
The restaurant can seat up to 110 individuals, with a banquet area available for large groups.
Before you leave the restaurant, check out the little store in the front, which offers Loroverde imported coffee from Mexico, plastic cubs, authentic Mexican candy, cactus plants, keychains, pens and notebooks. All these items are from Latino owned small businesses, According to Liz Dominguez, their hope is to move the store and add more items elsewhere in the business.
Hours are 11 a.m. To 8 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday; 11 a.m. To 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 11 a.m. To 3 p.m. Sundays.
All food is available to dine in or carry out and can be ordered by calling 574-353-4044. You can find out more on its Facebook page.
