Plano North January 2022

DISHES TO TRY

Elvia’s Enchiladas DeMole ($12.95) has shredded chicken enchiladas topped with Elvia’s mole, a savory chocolate sauce, and includes refried beans and rice.

DINING FEATURE

Chamorros De Cerdo ($14.75 ) includes braised pork shanks in a savory, adobo sauce. (Photos by Kaushiki Roy/Community Impact Newspaper)

Chiles Enogada ($14.50) features a poblano pepper stued with ground pork and beef, topped with a walnut cream sauce with pomegranates.

Cruzito’s CocinaMexicana Traditional Mexican restaurant draws on owner’s experience A fter working in the restaurant industry for over 30 years, Jose Cruz Gomez made the tough decision to open his own traditional Mexican restaurant in the middle of the pandemic. BY KAUSHIKI ROY

huevos rancheros, chilaquiles and machacado. The lunch and dinner menu includes caldo de mariscos with white sh, shrimp and octopus; bistec a la parrilla, which is grilled ribeye with roasted potatoes, broccoli and guajillo chile sauce; and enchiladas, burritos and tacos. The restaurant also features handmade fresh tortillas. Despite what Gomez was told about opening a business during the pandemic, he said he has gotten a lot of good reviews and repeat customers over the past few months, which has helped him to make a prot. “At rst, everything was challenging because people were just afraid to come out to a sit-down place,” Gomez said. “But we’ve actually been get- ting to know our customer base, and the reviews have been nothing but positive.” Gomez said if he had to advise new business owners, he would tell them to understand that there will be many struggles, but to stick to their dream and love their customers. “It’s about making people happy,” Gomez said. “Creating new experiences for our customers and educating them more about authentic Mexican food is what it’s all about.”

Cruzito’s CocinaMexicana 2300 14th St., Ste. 135 469-562-4071 https://cruzitoscocinamexicana.com Hours: Mon.-Thu. 7 a.m.-9 p.m., Fri.-Sat. 7 a.m.-10p.m., Sun. 8 a.m.-9 p.m. Jose Cruz Gomez opened Cruzito’s Cocina Mexicana in July 2021, after having worked in the restaurant industry for over 30 years.

Gomez, who began working as a dishwasher in an upscale restaurant in 1984, said many people told him he was making a mistake. But with the help of his team, he said he was able to launch Cruzito’s Cocina Mexicana in July 2021. “Most of my colleagues said I must have been out of my mind,” Gomez said. “But when we were allowed to have 75% capacity seating, I was ready to open the business up.” Cruzito’s Cocina Mexicana serves traditional cuisine from all over Mexico. Gomez said it is dierent from typical taquerias because it does not serve Tex-Mex food. Instead, it features a more sit-down-style environment. “I had always worked in upscale, sit-down restaurants in Houston,” Gomez said. “So I wanted this restaurant to be a little fancier than most grab-and-go places.” Breakfast features various egg dishes, including

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PLANO NORTH EDITION • JANUARY 2022