Guacamole Grill and Grocery Opens in Pine Plains

El Guacamole, the popular Mexican restaurant on South Main Street in Pine Plains, is no more. But fans of birria tacos and camarones a la diabla can relax — Guacamole Grill and Grocery has risen in its place.

“Our menu hasn’t changed much,” said manager Gabriella Lopez, who now owns the restaurant with her husband, Antonio Sanchez, the chef. “The dishes we prepare here are 100% Mexican.”

The couple had been working in the Mexican restaurant Coyote Flaco in Stanford when they took over El Guacamole in 2019, a year after it opened. Lopez handled the front of house and finances while Sanchez cooked, paying a percentage of revenue to the franchise owner.

Earlier this year, that company announced it was leaving the Mexican restaurant business. “They said to us, ‘Maybe you want to run this restaurant for yourself?’” Lopez recalled. “We were kind of scared, but we said, ‘Yeah, why not?’”

El Guacamole closed for about a month, from late September to late October, to renovate — repainting, adding new booths and chairs, and upgrading the kitchen. A state Health Department review of the septic system now allows seating for up to 20 guests, compared with the previous 12.

The new Grill and Grocery offers both familiar favorites and new dishes, alongside shelves of authentic Mexican staples — tortillas, tomato products, cooking oil, rice, and chile peppers.

One setback has been the liquor license. As new owners, Lopez and Sanchez had to reapply to the state — a process costing roughly $20,000, including legal fees. They stopped serving alcohol at the end of July, a couple of months after completing a new bar. “Summer is our busiest time,” Lopez said. “Winter is slow here, but in summer we have a lot of people who want to eat in the restaurant. There’s a lot of city people.”

For now, they’re serving dine-in and takeout order, and saving up while raising funds to finish the licensing process. Their new menu and Facebook page highlight daily specials inspired by recipes from Mexico City, Oaxaca, and Puebla — all places where the couple have family roots. One addition is vegan tacos made with chorizo. They also do private catering. 

“My idea is to make food for people who are always in a rush,” Lopez said. “Maybe one day it’s Mexican chicken and rice, the next chile relleno tamales.”

Lopez admits she’s shy — she doesn’t even tell customers she and her husband are the new owners — but she’s proud of what they’ve built. The couple, who live in Pine Plains with their three children, ages 7, 9, and 17, are determined to share their culture through food.

In a town with few affordable family dining options, the rebirth of Pine Plains’ only Mexican restaurant is welcome news. And come January, customers may once again be able to enjoy their enchiladas with a homemade sangria.