Antonio Sanchez was busy in the kitchen at El Guacamole on Monday evening, preparing orders for a packed house, while his wife, Gabriella Lopez, tended the newly renovated bar. The couple, both originally from Mexico, have operated the Pine Plains restaurant since 2019.
Sanchez and Lopez met while working at Coyote Flaco in Stanfordville. The original owners of the Pine Plains El Guacamole franchise, who established the restaurant in 2018, offered them the chance to take over the following year. They have three children. Their oldest, Zayuri, is a 10th-grader at Stissing Mountain High School.
Zayuri explained that popular items from the Cinco de Mayo menu would be offered again in the future. That menu included ceviche tostada and esquites, a corn-in-a-cup street food common in Mexico.
Cinco de Mayo commemorates Mexico’s 1862 victory over French forces at the Battle of Puebla. The battle was a boost for Mexican resistance during France’s broader military intervention. In Mexico, the date is observed primarily in the state of Puebla. In the United States, it has become a more widely celebrated cultural holiday. It is not Mexico’s Independence Day, which is observed on Sept. 16.
In Pine Plains, the celebration drew a full house. By 6 p.m., every table in the restaurant was filled, and the relocated bar area was crowded with patrons. Recent updates to the space include new tables, chairs, and lighting fixtures. The restaurant, previously limited to 12 seats, now accommodates 22.
Lopez also highlighted the restaurant’s new brunch menu, which is available from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily except Tuesday, with a $2 surcharge after 3 p.m.
Martine King and Harper Michaels were enjoying margaritas and The Elote Trio: grilled corn on the cob with three different toppings, a traditional Mexican dish.
Patty Hollick, a long-term Pine Plains resident, said she was looking forward to her vegetable fajita. “It’s to die for,” she said. “It’s hard when you’re a vegetarian to find something tasty around here. The food is delicious, and I like the people who run the place.”
Nelly Sanchez, owner of Lili’s Nails in Rhinebeck, said it was her first time at El Guacamole. “We wanted to try the restaurant — we hear about it from customers — and Cinco de Mayo is a good occasion for it.”
Laura Dennis, who lives on North Main Street, added, “It’s real food, very fresh. We’re fortunate to have this restaurant in town.”
With the renovations complete and the crowd thinning, Lopez and Sanchez wrapped up another busy night in Pine Plains.
