Mexico City to Erie, PA — Latino’s Restaurant & Bar

People go into the restaurant business for various reasons, but going into it because your mother wanted to go back to work probably is not one of the popular ones. Julio, his wife of 36 years, and his mother opened the restaurant in 1996 after coming from California, but originally moving from Mexico City. For a living, Julio writes software and the restaurant is more of a long term investment. He said that “Our name was chosen by the manager because it is a segregated city, it was not my choice.” Being on the east side of Erie could be a downfall for stores and restaurants as people do not like to travel there often, but Julio says that they must being doing something right as they are so successful. 

Besides opening the restaurant for his mother, he also opened it so he could “offer jobs and serve authentic cuisine.” Since his food is on the higher end, people may not know that this Mexican restaurant is not like the other Americanized ones in the area. When people look at the prices on the menu some walk out of the restaurant because they think it is just another Mexican restaurant. They have even been recognized nationally and throughout the state for having such authentic cuisine. Julio orders spices and dried peppers from California, cooks the old fashioned way with no deep fryers so the experience will be like the customer is in a home in Mexico. The most popular menu item is their Comida Corrida which is a several course meal all at a fixed rate, and this is very common in Mexico where people working will have this as their main meal of the day. Julio also said that customers will ask for a recipe and he gives his family recipe to them, but they come back because it is not as good as it is in their restaurant.

With Julio’s restaurant getting busier and busier, sometimes they will close for a few weeks, which is different than other restaurants. Others may go for the volume, but they go for the quality and authenticity, and that is what keeps the customers coming. He has so many different amazing experiences at the restaurant that he said he could write a book about them all, but the best are seeing people being satisfied tasting their food and interacting with each other with no phones on the table. Julio said he never could have imagined how rewarding it would be to talk with so many different people, and how satisfying it is to have customers come in with a natural curiosity for good food.

Although they do not offer discounts, he said that the customer does not appreciate the food as much when there is a discount. When he sees that there is a family there that are celebrating a birthday, or are being well behaved, and clearly do not have the means to spend money there, he will give them a free meal.

If you are looking for a good experience, quality food, and something that you cannot prepare at home, Latino’s Restaurant & Bar is an option for you and your friends or family.

Latino’s Restaurant & Bar’s address is: 1315 Parade St, Erie, PA 16503

Their hours are: Tuesday - Saturday 5 p.m. - 10 p.m.

To call for for a reservation their phone number is: 814-452-1966

Latino's Restaurant & Bar