Close your eyes and put yourself in Mexico — on Cancun’s main tourist strip or in the middle of Playa Del Carmen’s famed Fifth Avenue.
Now walk into Niagara-on-the-Lake’s newest Mexican eatery, Twisted Bar, and try the same blind test.
The establishment’s management hopes you’ll be transported to those same places.
“It’s a taste of Mexico,” said manager Laurie Lougheed.
“You come in, you get the feel, you see all the themed paintings that we have inside. It’s authentic.”
The new restaurant opened in early November on Virgil’s main strip — as of now, it’s the only sit-down Mexican food establishment operating in NOTL.
Items that have to be prepped from scratch, such as the nachos, salsa verde and ceviche, are all made in-house.
Spices such as cilantro, achiote and chilli powder are, of course, part of the location’s food chain, as is staple Mexican main fare such as authentic soft-shell tacos, burritos and tortilla soups.
The restaurant’s interior is full of lush green fauna and Latin-themed artwork that features bright and warm pastel colours synonymous with Mexican culture.
There is seating for 72 guests at 20 tables and a bar that features craft beers, local wines, plentiful cocktail options and, of course, tequila — 10 different brands of the liquor well-associated with Mexico (Patrón, Don Julio, Jose Cuervo, whatever your poison).
This is the third Mexican cuisine venture that owner Elizabeth Valencia has untaken.
She and her husband, Raul Ojeda, own Chile & Agave Mexican Grill in St. Catharines and, for the past two summers, have operated the Nacho Business food truck in St. Davids, which Valencia said was well-received by those who grabbed a bite to eat from there.
Niagara-on-the-Lake has always been on the couple’s radar for a permanent restaurant, Valencia said, so when the opportunity arose to take over the space in Virgil that used to house Twisted Vine restaurant, they jumped at the chance.
So far, that decision looks like it was a good one for them.
“We just opened the doors and it’s been really busy,” said Valencia.
“It was supposed to be like a quiet week,” she added.
It was anything but.
“Prior to the week opening, we had to lock the door because people would come in,” said Lougheed.
“They would see the sign and get all excited about it.”
Valencia notes that while the early interest is encouraging, the real measure of success will come after Christmas.
“In three months if we are still busy, then yes, it is a success.”
Twisted Bar is located at 1502 Niagara Stone Rd. For more information including business hours, check out their Instagram page, @twistedbarnotl.
