NWI Dining: El Cantarito

Last Updated on Thursday, 04 February 2010 00:58 Thursday, 04 February 2010 00:24

El Cantarito

Portage, IN

By Mona Dickinson

Business partners Fernando Romo and Alfonso “Poncho” Fuentes are offering a guarantee to area residents – they guarantee that you will be pleased with the area’s finest Mexican cuisine at their restaurant, El Cantarito on Central Avenue in Portage.

Romo had always wanted to open his own restaurant. He and Fuentes became friends while working at another area restaurant. When the opportunity presented itself late last year, Romo asked his friend to head up the kitchen in the new venture.

“We are a very good team,” Romo said, noting that he was actually looking to open a restaurant toward Plymouth. “This all happened very suddenly and we were open here in Portage. The opportunity became available and it was too good to pass up.”

The building at 6291 Central Ave., previously housed another Mexican restaurant. Romo did some extensive remodeling, adding a bar area away from the family dining and redoing the restrooms. But what sets El Cantarito apart from other similar restaurants is its food.

Fuentes is a master in the kitchen, according to Romo. “Carne asada is carne asada, but it will taste different in different restaurants,” Romo noted. “The taste of the food is all in the way it is marinated, seasoned and prepared.”

Fuentes has cooked most of his life, coming from the same region of Mexico where Romo is from. El Cantarito – which means the clay pot – was chosen as the name because the area where the two are from is know for the clay pots and ceramic items http://elcantaritocuisine.  com/attachments/Image/fajasCantarito.  png made by local artisans.

“Everything here is made from scratch, right down to our sauces,” Romo said.  Even the guacamole is made several times a day, instead of making it in one big batch.

“Poncho is a very good cook, he takes pride in his cooking,” added Romo. ”He knows the kitchen and I know the front of the house.”

Romo said that one of the most popular items has been the Poncho Burger a fresh half-pound ground beef patty seasoned with Poncho’s special ingredients and topped with pepper jack cheese, bacon, lettuce, tomato and onion.

The history of the Poncho burger, Romo explained, started during his teen years on the streets of Mexico pushing a cart and selling them at local flea markets.  “People who don’t like hamburgers will like the Poncho burger,” Romo said.  The menu offers the traditional favorites from appetizers to dinner entrees.

Patrons enjoy chips and salsa while looking over the menu. Nachos, fresh dips and chips or a combination platter offer the perfect start.

For the lighter appetite, there are quesadillas, tacos and burritos. There are many choices under House Specialties, Seafood and Fajitas.

Romo said some of the popular items are the House Favorite Quesadilla (with your choice of steak or chicken), the La Piedad Dinner (a pork tenderloin with all the trimmings) and the Tostados De Ceviche (seasoned tilapia with lime, tomato and onion on a tostada).

A lunch menu features the pick-two from choices of taco, tamale, enchilada, burrito and quesadilla, the lunch fajitas or the lunch chimichanga. Romo says that lunch guests are invited to enjoy half off a second lunch on their first visit.

A full bar selection is available. El Cantarito offers 17 different flavored margaritas to accompany your meal.  Romo hopes that area residents will come to El Cantarito, try the food and have a good time. “Once they have come here, they will come back,” promised Romo.

He and Fuentes, along with their spouses, Liliana Romo and Leslie Fuentes, have put their heart and soul into the business in its first few months.  Liliana and Leslie help out wherever they are needed. Romo said his first seal of approval came from members of Liliana’s family, who were visiting over the holidays.

 “Her brothers own their own restaurants and they came to try us here,” Romo said. “They tried different items and cleaned their plates.”

Since everything came together so fast to get the restaurant up and running, Romo said a grand opening is planned at a later date. He also hopes to expand with an outdoor dining area in the spring.

“For right now, we are happy and excited to be open and to be able to share the roots of our heritage with others,” Romo said.

El Cantarito is also available for small gatherings and groups. The restaurant is open seven days a week for lunch and dinner and can be reached at (219) 762-1900.

For more information, you can check out the restaurant’s website at www.  elcantaritocuisine.com.