New Mexican Restaurant, La Marimba, Hits The Ground Running

OSWEGO, IL — Taco Tuesday is now all the easier to indulge in Oswego. A new Mexican restaurant, La Marimba, opened its doors to the public in a soft opening May 28.

Located just blocks away from the Fox River, at 65 W. Washington St., the self-described “freshest Mexican food in town” joins a handful of other Mexican cuisine locales in the neighborhood.

“Our menu is really simple but that gives our kitchen a chance to really focus on the quality and consistency of our dishes,” said Fernando Cerritos, the restaurant’s manager.

Shrimp ceviche and steak tacos are some of the restaurant’s top sellers, according to Cerritos, and its Facebook page boasts of meals and drinks made entirely from scratch.

The restaurant’s owner, Luis Prado, is “100 percent about hospitality … making sure everyone coming in has an extraordinary experience,” Cerritos said.

La Marimba is Prado’s second restaurant. Its sister spot is Al Chile Mexican Grill, located in Darien.

“We have a lot of people saying how downtown Oswego is very up and coming, and they’re very happy that we’re here,” Cerritos said. “The community has been so positive with us.”

This past Tuesday, when many tend to go out for Taco Tuesday, was “surprisingly popular,” he said.

“So far, even though we’ve been only open for a little over two weeks, we’ve had a lot of regulars come in,” Cerritos said. “It’s awesome we’re starting to recognize our regulars, their names and what they like.”

While they have top-selling imported and domestic beers available, the locale’s focus is on margaritas and other tequila drinks. So far, Cerritos said community favorites have included a pineapple jalapeno margarita and “an exotic one” made with pomegranate.

“We have an expansive selection of tequila ranging from all parts of Mexico, so our main thing is our cocktails — everything is made from scratch,” Cerritos said.

Since it’s new and not yet had its grand opening, La Marimba doesn’t currently have any specials advertised. Cerritos said the fact their patio furniture has been backordered is one reason a grand opening date hasn’t been set yet. Once that arrives, the patio — where a fountain, outdoor fireplace and sofa lounges currently dwell — will house 12 to 15 more tables, he said.

“We’re not trying to be something we’re not,” Cerritos said. “At the end of the day, we want to make sure the customers enjoy their dinner and have a great experience.”

The full food and drink menus can be viewed on the restaurant’s website. La Marimba is open seven days a week, from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Sunday through Thursday, and from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., Friday through Saturday.