Lee — Residents are now able to enjoy their mornings with authentic Mexican food just a short stroll down Main Street.
Patricia de la Paz opened Jalisco Cantina on May 1 at 85 Main Street, in the space formerly occupied by Prado’s Café. She also operates two other restaurants in New York: Glenville’s Tequila Jalisco and Ballston Spa’s Taqueria Guadalajara, with those customers having told de la Paz “there’s not much Mexican food in Lee.” The patrons’ comments sparked her interest in the town’s Main Street and, after hearing the Prado’s space was available, she put her plans in motion. De la Paz said she liked the area so much she decided to make her home locally about a month ago, moving from New York. “We’re happy to be in Lee,” she told the Berkshire Edge during a phone interview. “It’s a really nice town. Everybody’s welcoming.”
Having moved from Guadalajara, Mexico to New York in 1991, when she was five years old, de la Paz said she serves “authentic Mexican” food.
As with the site’s former occupants, Aiello’s and Prado’s, the eatery is open for breakfast and lunch only, Tuesday through Sunday, from 7 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. However, de la Paz said she plans to add dinner to the offerings in about a month, expanding her menu to include enchiladas de mole, pollo (chicken) con mole, tacos, and fajitas. She will be seeking a liquor license from the town.
In the meantime, de la Paz is busy incorporating Latin-style décor to the existing ambiance while customers relish in the restaurant’s chilaquiles (corn chips, red or green sauce, sour cream, fried eggs) served with or without a steak addition; huevos con chorizo (scrambled eggs, Mexican sausage, refried beans, Mexican rice, tortillas); breakfast burrito (scrambled eggs, avocado, onion, red pepper, salsa, cheddar cheese, tortilla); and Mexican French toast (dulce de leche served over French toast with whipped cream, caramel, banana, and strawberries). For those missing south-of-the-border treats, Jalisco Cantina features Jarritos fruit-flavored sodas.
Posters on local social media sites noted a quick turnaround for the establishment. De la Paz said she closed on the site April 30, the same date the business certificate was issued by Lee officials. De la Paz said she is working on adding a website and Facebook page.
