Popular Westchester Restaurant, El Cantito Café Earns Grubhub Award

YONKERS, NY — One of your favorite dining spots for a night out has earned a prestigious recognition and some support in a tough business environment.

The top Westchester foodie spot was among 30 restaurants from Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, The Bronx and Westchester County named as the inaugural recipients of "Rising Restaurateur: A Community Grant Program," sponsored by Grubhub, Oyate Group and the New York State Latino Restaurant, Bar & Lounge Association (NYSLRBLA). Each restaurateur was awarded a $6,500 microgrant and will receive business development training provided by the anti-poverty nonprofit Oyate Group in an effort to support independent Latino, Black, Indigenous and AAPI restaurateurs.

El Cantito Café was the only Westchester restaurant to earn the honor.

"The Rising Restaurateur grant program is a lifeline for our city's small and minority-owned restaurants, helping them cover essential costs, invest in growth and drive innovation," Sandra Jaquez, president of NYSLRBLA, said. "With this critical funding, restaurants will have the opportunity to better serve their communities and support positive change in our industry. We are immensely grateful to Grubhub and Oyate for their unwavering support and partnership."

Jaquez hosted an awards ceremony at her Italian restaurant, Il Sole, where representatives of Grubhub, Oyate Group and NYSLRBLA, as well as members of Congress, the NYC Council, and the Chambers of Commerce, congratulated the local and independent restaurateurs who serve as the backbone of the New York City area's local economy.

"We at Oyate Group are proud to have been able to invigorate thirty independent restaurants at the heart of our communities with the help of our invaluable partners," Oyate Group Founder Tomas Ramos said. "Latino, Black, Indigenous and AAPI restaurateurs make New York City one of the most diverse and vibrant culinary capitals in the world, which is why it is so important to provide them with the financial support and guidance they need to thrive and continue uplifting our neighborhoods."

Rising Restaurateur is a partnership between Oyate Group, a nonprofit with the mission to alleviate poverty, Grubhub, an online food delivery marketplace, and NYSLRBLA, a nonprofit organization founded to create opportunities for Latino and minority businesses to succeed in the food and beverage industry. Oyate Group and Grubhub have pledged to continue funding the program annually until 2026.

"The 2024 Rising Restaurateur grant recipients, like the majority of the restaurants that Grubhub serves, are small and medium-sized businesses that we believe are critical players in neighborhoods and communities across NYC," Gruhub's Brett Swanson said. "Supporting independent restaurants is a primary focus for Grubhub’s community impact work, and we are honored to help give these 30 small businesses an extra boost to help sustain and grow their operations."

The 2024 Rising Restaurateur grant recipients named in each NYC borough, plus Westchester County, are:

• The Bronx: Rosa’s At Park, Mon Amour Coffee & Wine, Cafe Colonial Restaurant and Grill, La Cocina de Yala LLC, Chocobar Cortes, Colima Taqueria
• Brooklyn: Taqueria el Patron Mexican Grill, Salud Bar & Grill, Halsey Ale House, Hello Bar LLC, Mez En Place, Citrico
• Manhattan: Tabu Restaurant, EL Jefe, Il Posto Accanto, 7 Henshaw Inc, Bocaditos Bistro, Indian Summer Harlem, Pate Palo Bar & Grill, Healthy in Dyckman Juice Bar and Cafe
• Queens: Turkish Grill, Flamingo, Fonda La Consentida, Mojitos Restaurant Bar, Bramo's Express, Multisweet LIC, Canas Restaurant and Bar Corp, Bocaito Café, The Nourish Spot
• Westchester: El Cantito Café

More information about Rising Restaurateur can be found here.