Managers say it’s good food, service and great margaritas
Large, lively crowds are no rarity at El Paso Mexican Grill in Luling, where the atmosphere is designed to give locals the feeling of entering the kind of true-to-life Mexican restaurant one would find south of the border.
Whether it’s the food on the menu, the margaritas, the occasional live music performances or the friendly service, it’s all combined to make the restaurant a popular stop at its location along Highway 90, said El Paso Assistant Manager Pilar Ruiz.
“When you are passionate about your job, it makes a difference,” said Ruiz, who runs the business alongside her husband and restaurant Manager Hector Rodriguez. “We love the hospitality business. We really enjoy welcoming people and we really pay attention to our customers. We create bonds with them.”
Among the most popular items are the steak and chicken fajitas. The margaritas are also a popular draw, especially during the establishment’s “Happy Hour,” which Ruiz noted can be subject to some relaxed rules.
“We like to spoil our customers with that,” she said. “We’ll start it a little early, or let it continue past time. We’ve been very lucky with the response to that. It’s been extremely popular.”
Quesadillas, burritos and a variety of seafood dishes also adorn the menu, which is more than 100 items deep.
Since he and his wife moved to the U.S. from South America, Rodriguez has been with the El Paso Restaurant business for years, moving up the ranks from busser to server to assistant manager and, finally, to manager. The Luling restaurant was one he was asked to come aboard and open; he accepted that position and moved with Ruiz from Pensacola, Fla.
“We wanted to wait until our children were out of college,” Ruiz said. “We were a little hesitant to uproot everything. But once they did, we said, ‘Why the heck not?’ And we made the move.”
The store owners, the Chavis family, chose the Luling area to open a restaurant following Hurricane Katrina, understanding the need for new businesses to open in the New Orleans and surrounding areas in its aftermath.
“They saw there was a small business across the street at the time and that was all, so they sensed it would be a good place to place the business,” Ruiz said.
Rodriguez was offered a higher salary and a percentage of the business at the Luling El Paso. Given the crowds the restaurant has generated, that’s kept Rodriguez from considering calling it quits.
“He’s raised a retirement, but he’s not ready to go,” Ruiz said, before adding with a laugh, “they joked they had no idea we’d do as well, or they’d have offered (Rodriguez) a different deal.”
She said the atmosphere is a big part of why customers continue to dine there. On select nights, live Mariachi music is featured in the spacious restaurant. But even on other nights, Ruiz said the goal is for everyone to have a memorable time.
“We set out to make it like a true Mexican restaurant. It’s rustic, neat and clean … we allow the servers to make jokes and play with the customers,” Ruiz said. “We want to make sure everyone has a great time here.”
Likewise, Rodriguez and Ruiz love the locals and have zero regrets about making the move to Luling, and Louisiana as a whole.
“It’s really cool. It’s like the carnival the whole year-round,” she said. “It’s not very quiet, but it’s always fun. We definitely like it here.”
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