A Mexican-Italian restaurant in Morgan Hill? It
’s a different combination, but Eugenio Vargas, the new owner of
Plaza Mexican-Italian Grill at 17385 Monterey Street, believes it
just may work.
A Mexican-Italian restaurant in Morgan Hill? It’s a different combination, but Eugenio Vargas, the new owner of Plaza Mexican-Italian Grill at 17385 Monterey Street, believes it just may work.
Vargas, who opened doors to the downtown business on June 10, said the restaurant had formerly served Italian food and customers wanted him to keep the menu. Having operated restaurants in the past, he decided to offer a combined Mexican and Italian menu, and so far, it’s working, he said.
“Literally half of our customers order Italian food and half order Mexican food. I had a party of 17 over the weekend and that’s the way they ordered,” said Vargas.
Vargas is originally from Guadalajara, Mexico. He and his wife, Reyna, had operated Amigos, a Mexican restaurant in Chattanooga, Tennessee for three years in partnership with some friends. The Vargas family recently moved to San Jose and decided to venture out on their own, 27 miles south to Morgan Hill.
“We heard that Morgan Hill is growing and are with the expectation that the customer base will grow. Within a few months, we hope we’ll be recognized as a good restaurant in the area,” said Vargas.
The Vargas’ family has experience with food and service. While they serve some typical Mexican menu items, what sets them apart from other Mexican restaurants is the flavor of the food, they noted.
“We have a special white cheese which we use, and this makes all the difference in the world,” said Vargas.
For house specials, Vargas recommends the Special Guadalajara, with a “smooth, rich flavor” of grilled chicken meat served with Mexican rice, topped with their special white cheese and three flour tortillas. For a fiercer flavor, the Pollo Picoso adds spice to the same combination, with sautéed onions, beans and their spiciest salsa.
His Amigo Salad and the taco salad are different from other restaurants, and his burritos are not like those found at the regular taquerias, he said. “Just try them, and you’ll tell us they are different,” he said.
Lunch specials are quite varied, featuring a combination of tacos, enchiladas, burritos and rice and beans. There are dishes for the vegetarian and for that person on a low carb diet.
Mainstays in the Italian menu include the salads, pastas like linguini pescatory, appetizers like bruschetta and mozarella sticks, the calzone and a variety of pizzas and specialty Italian sandwiches.
Along with the food, Vargas emphasizes service. “We are here to serve the customer,” he said.
The Mexican native said the business has changed owners so many times over the last few years that he is afraid the public has lost confidence in the service. The restaurant used to be Quinn’s Cafe, then became the Downtown Cafe, and then, more recently, Chiles. Vargas wants people to know he and his staff aim to provide good service along with the good food.
So far, Plaza Mexican-Italian Grill is a family business, with Vargas’ wife Reyna and two older sons Victor, 16, and Oscar, 15, working alongside him. He also has two cooks on staff and once business picks up, hopes to hire additional help.
Plaza Mexican-Italian Grill is open seven days a week, from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., except on Tuesdays, when hours are from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. The restaurant provides fast service, said Vargas, and with just a phone call, will provide customers with food to go.
The Vargases are inviting the community to celebrate their grand opening with them during the first week of August.
“We look forward to moving ahead and have a commitment to serve the community. We’d like them to come over and taste our food. We are sure they will like it,” Vargas said.
