Maureen Wallenfang
Appleton Post-Crescent
Published 12:19 PM EDT Jun 28, 2019
A well-liked Mexican restaurant in Appleton is changing its name and owners.
Mi Casa at 2190 S. Memorial Drive is becoming El Sabor Mexican Grill.
El Sabor is a new locally owned restaurant that will open in the first week of July. The last of its paperwork and permits were being processed late this week.
El Sabor’s new owners are Luis Alejandro Santiago, known as Alex, and his fiancee Lucero Olson.
They’re in midst of final preparations, including painting the small restaurant’s interior red, orange and black and putting up new signs with a subhead, “The taste of Mexico.” Sabor means flavor in Spanish.
“I’m so ready for this,” said Santiago.
He spent the last 14 years working in Fox Cities Mexican restaurants including Solea Mexican Grill, Senor Tequila and Los Compadres.
Santiago liked the cozy space, patio, and prime location on busy Memorial Drive, roughly across the street from the former Valley Fair site.
Plus, he knew it was a good opportunity to fulfill their dream of owning their own business.
“This place is a great location,” he said. “It was a great opportunity I had with Maria when I heard she was selling the place.”
Maria Rodriguez owned the popular Mi Casa restaurant with husband Michael Whiting. He died March 9, and she didn’t want to continue running the restaurant alone. Mi Casa closed two weeks ago.
The new El Sabor restaurant will carry over some favorite dishes from Mi Casa.
Plus, it will introduce its own authentic recipes, like homemade tamales and mole negro, from Santiago’s grandmother and Olson’s mother. Both women were from Oaxaca, Mexico.
Info: Facebook or 920-903-1102. Open 11 a.m.- 8 p.m. Sunday, 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday to Thursday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. The menu will be posted later on its coming website, www.elsabormexicangrill.com.
Contact Maureen Wallenfang at 920-993-7116 or [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter at @wallenfang.
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