Molina's Cantina

Molina's Cantina in Southside Place, Greater Houston

Molina's Cantina is a Tex-Mex restaurant chain in Houston, Texas. As of 2012, Molina's is the oldest still-operating Tex-Mex restaurant in Houston.

Molina's is known for its family restaurant atmosphere and the employees who work in Molina's for many years at a time. As of 1992, one cashier had worked at Molina's for 20 years. One waiter had been working there for 45 years. One chef had recently retired after 50 years.[1] In 2011, Molina's has had employees who had worked at the restaurant for over 20 years.[2] The chain is also known for its famous customers, including George H. W. Bush, former President of the United States, and George Strake, former chairperson of the Texas Republican Party.[1]

As of 2012 the restaurant has three locations, with one on Washington Avenue, one in west Houston, and one on Bellaire Boulevard in the City of Southside Place.[3][4] As of 2014 the owners are third-generation; Raul III, Ricardo, and Roberto; the grandsons of the founder.[5]

History

Molina's first opened in 1941,[2] making it, as of 2011, the oldest continually operating Tex-Mex restaurant in the city.[6] It was established by Raul Molina, Sr., a native of Laredo, Texas. From his arrival in Houston in the late 1920s, Raul Molina, Sr. had worked as a busboy, dishwasher, and counter staff, before he and his wife Mary had saved enough funds to open a restaurant.[7] The family of Mary, née Sarabia, had established the newspaper La Gaceta Mexicana.[5]

The first location, named Old Monterrey, was located at 1919 West Gray.[7] The restaurant was renamed to Molina's Mexican City after moving to a new location on South Main Street in 1945. Additional locations opened afterwards, and in the 1970s the company began catering after receiving requests from longtime customers and American presidents, even though the owners initially had no plans to do so. Raul Molina retired in 1977,[5] and Raul Molina, Jr. bought the restaurant operations from his father. In 1992 Claudia Feldman of the Houston Chronicle said "the third generation is playing an increasingly important role in the operation."[1]

Cynthia Mayer of the Philadelphia Inquirer said that Molina's, "a restaurant that began serving Mexican food long before Corona beer and body shots became the yuppie rage," helped George H. W. Bush adjust to life as a Houstonian.[8] Molina Jr. said that Bush often ordered enchiladas, fajitas, and/or beer.[1]

As of 2011, During that year the restaurant celebrated its 70th anniversary by offering specials throughout the entire month of July. The crispy taco was offered for 41 cents and the enchilada dinner was offered for 70 cents, corresponding to the numerical, pre-inflation prices of 1941 (In today's money, the 1941 taco would cost $6.61 each, and the 1941 enchilada dinner would cost $12.09 each).[2] In 2012 Katharine Shilcutt of the Houston Press said that "there's a good chance that most Houstonians have their own favorite dishes" at Molina's.[6]

Cuisine

Molina's is known for offering various specials named after friends of the owners and longtime customers. The specials include "CW Special," "Raulito's Shrimp Special," and "William's Special."[2] One dish at Molina's, the Mexico City plate, has, as of 2012, been offered unchanged since it was introduced in 1941. As of 2012 it consists of three plates served in two parts. The first part, consisting of two plates, includes a beef taco with guacamole and a bean tostada topped with lettuce and salsa on one plate, and a fried masa puff with queso (cheese) on another plate. The second part, with the third dish, includes a cheese enchilada and a pork tamale served with refried beans and rice. As of 2012 the price is $12.50. The restaurant Molina's also has a signature chili con queso with spicy ground beef, called "Jose's Dip."[6]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Feldman, Claudia. "Moving back to the 'hood . . ./CITIZEN BUSH." Houston Chronicle. Sunday December 13, 1992. Lifestyle p. 1. Retrieved on October 15, 2012.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Pham, Mai. "Molina's Cantina: 70 Years of Tex-Mex in Houston." Houston Press. Friday July 8, 2011. Retrieved on July 25, 2012.
  3. ↑ "Locations." (Archive) Molina's. Retrieved on October 15, 2012. "4720 Washington Ave" "7901 Westheimer Rd" "3801 Bellaire Blvd"
  4. ↑ "DC10BLK_P4869272_001.pdf." (Archive) U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved on October 13, 2012.
  5. 1 2 3 Steinberg, Kaitlin. "Meet the First Families of Houston Food." Houston Press. Wednesday February 26, 2014. Retrieved on February 29, 2016.
  6. 1 2 3 Shilcutt, Katharine. "100 Favorite Dishes 2012: No. 53, Mexico City Plate at Molina's Cantina." Houston Press. Tuesday July 17, 2012. Retrieved on July 25, 2012.
  7. 1 2 "About Us." (Archive) Molina's. Retrieved on October 15, 2012.
  8. ↑ Mayer, Cynthia. "In Houston, Where Bush Still Drops In." Philadelphia Inquirer. August 18, 1992. 1. Retrieved on October 13, 2012.

External links

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