Now open: Don Juan Mexican Bar & Grill on Ann Arbor's West Stadium
A new Mexican restaurant is now serving up margaritas, nachos and chilaquiles on the west side of Ann Arbor.
Don Juan Mexican Bar & Grill opened its doors on Monday, Aug. 26 at 2135 W. Stadium Blvd. in the Boulevard Plaza shopping center.
Don Juan Mexican Bar & Grill opened its doors this week on West Stadium Boulevard.
Lizzy Alfs | AnnArbor.com
“We were trying the first day out without really telling people, and we got customers in yesterday,” said general manager David Corona. “We got probably about 20 tables. It was fun.”
Juan Hernandez, owner of the Los Amigos Mexican restaurants on Hilton Boulevard in Ann Arbor and East Michigan Avenue in Ypsilanti Township, also owns Don Juan Mexican Bar & Grill.
The concept and menu at the Don Juan restaurant is the same as Los Amigos, Corona said.
He said the new restaurant has a large menu — options include nachos, salads, burritos and seafood dishes — and he said everything is made from scratch.
“We use fresh produce, we bake everything daily, with fresh chips and salsa every day,” he said.
The restaurant is open for lunch daily, but Corona said he’s unsure when the restaurant will be the busiest. He said the daily happy hour specials from 3 to 6 p.m. could be a traffic driver.
“I don’t know how it’s going to be on this side, but on the other side of town (near Briarwood Mall), we are busy all day long. I hope we can get a busy dinner and lunch,” he said.
Ace Barnes Hardware and Arbor Farms Market anchor the Boulevard Plaza shopping center, which is located between West Liberty Street and Pauline Boulevard. Don Juan Mexican Bar & Grill is situated between Mattress & Futon Shop and H&R Block, fronting West Stadium Boulevard.
The space was listed for lease with Colliers International’s Max Goldman and Lou Frango, who are still marketing two spaces for lease in the center.
Don Juan Mexican Bar & Grill’s hours are: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Friday; 12 to 11 p.m. on Saturday; and 12 to 10 p.m. on Sunday.
Lizzy Alfs is a business reporter for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at 734-623-2584 or email her at lizzyalfs@annarbor.com. Follow her on Twitter at http://twitter.com/lizzyalfs.
Comments
Gworty
Thu, Aug 29, 2013 : 12:08 a.m.
Had dinner there tonight and is was good - will repeat. Thought it strange they put chocolate syrup over their flan, I ask for the flan without it and ejoyed it so much better without it.
thefoodandwinehedonist
Wed, Aug 28, 2013 : 9:37 p.m.
Amigos at Briarwood has some of the worst Mexican food I've ever had, so my expectations are low here. That said, I wish them luck here.
Barb
Wed, Aug 28, 2013 : 6:36 p.m.
I also went last night and was surpried that it was *exactly* the same menu as Los Amigos by Briarwood. I guess with a different name, I expected something different. I mean, I like it fine but yeah, it's no Chela's or Pilar's...
the other guy
Wed, Aug 28, 2013 : 5:28 p.m.
I still miss La Pinata....
dougfroma2
Wed, Aug 28, 2013 : 10:21 p.m.
Stopped there years ago for some guacco and beer just before my wife's c-section. The daughter is now 16 and I still get grief from the wife...
Brad
Wed, Aug 28, 2013 : 9:31 p.m.
Tingas - yum. Washed down with strawberry margs.
justcurious
Wed, Aug 28, 2013 : 8:05 p.m.
We frequented La Pinata a lot. They had those great little rolled deep fried beef things...tingas??? They were owned by the daughters of two local contractors but their food was still good.
a2citizen
Wed, Aug 28, 2013 : 6:22 p.m.
The restaurants I missed the most after moving from Detroit were Xochimilco's and Mexican Village. La Pinata was never in the same league - flavor or price wise.
EyeHeartA2
Wed, Aug 28, 2013 : 5:58 p.m.
You got that right. That place was the bomb.
Liz
Wed, Aug 28, 2013 : 5:05 p.m.
We went last night and would definitely go back! Good prices and the food was good, very big portions with lots leftover. It's certainly not the best Mexican I've ever had, but it's nice to have a more extended menu from Chela's and Taco King (which I also really like). 3.99 16oz margaritas after 6pm were very much enjoyed by my table last night--and FYI, the frozen ones are much stronger!!
motivatedshi
Wed, Aug 28, 2013 : 4:56 p.m.
Just came back from having lunch here..... Their Chips and Salsa is really among the best i have had in Michigan, I had their Enchilada Supremis.... It was very tasty. You could tell the ingredients used were fresh and did not come from a can! It was 10 bucks but enough for two people! I highly recommend you trying them out.
DBH
Wed, Aug 28, 2013 : 4:09 p.m.
The health inspection reports at their 2 Los Amigos locations have improved. They used to be poor to atrocious, but their last inspections in late winter were decent. http://www.swordsolutions.com/inspections/pgesearchresults.asp?County=28
Jay
Wed, Aug 28, 2013 : 3:55 p.m.
I hope they have tableside guacamole!
Nicholas Urfe
Wed, Aug 28, 2013 : 2:33 p.m.
"he said everything is made from scratch." Are the corn and flour tortilla's made from scratch on site? Do they use fresh local masa harina for the tortillas, or is it a commercial mix?
Nicholas Urfe
Wed, Aug 28, 2013 : 5:14 p.m.
I'll take the downvotes as confirmation that those items aren't made from scratch and are probably purchased in bulk from SYSCO.
Usual Suspect
Wed, Aug 28, 2013 : 1:45 p.m.
Welcome to the neighborhood. We're looking forward to trying it out.
Billy
Wed, Aug 28, 2013 : 12:23 p.m.
Oh man....it's the guy that runs Los Amigos on Michgian Ave? I am SOOOO there now. This sounds like it'll be a great replacement for Senor Lopez's. I mean I LOVE Chela's, but their menu is pretty small and lacks a lot of traditional dishes. I mean I don't blame them or anything, that's not their style, but I DO want more.
a2grateful
Wed, Aug 28, 2013 : 12:07 p.m.
11am to 11pm, Friday, via their website. . .
Lake Trout
Wed, Aug 28, 2013 : noon
Is it a mistake, or is this place really not open on Fridays???
Lizzy Alfs
Wed, Aug 28, 2013 : 3:47 p.m.
Whoops, thank you! I'll make that correction now. It is in fact open 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Fridays.
jastro734
Wed, Aug 28, 2013 : 1 p.m.
Was just pondering that myself....
NSider
Wed, Aug 28, 2013 : 11:32 a.m.
Isn't this the 3rd iteration of something Mexican in that location?
Gworty
Thu, Aug 29, 2013 : 12:09 a.m.
2nd
LuvAA
Wed, Aug 28, 2013 : 11:08 a.m.
Loved Senor Lopez! I wish them luck and plan on trying the food today! We need some good authentic Mexican food around this area.
Peggysue
Wed, Aug 28, 2013 : 3:04 p.m.
Need a fresh venue to what is already there, dirty nasty ants everywhere, won't name names
fjord
Wed, Aug 28, 2013 : 1:07 p.m.
There already is good, authentic food in that area: Taco King around the corner on Liberty, and Chela's around another corner on Maple. That's not to say that Don Juan isn't also welcome.
SusanRk
Wed, Aug 28, 2013 : 10:07 a.m.
I hope they have salsa as good as Mizarappe in Saline.