A new Worcester Mexican restaurant a year in the making is finally opening
A Mexican restaurant in downtown Worcester will open its doors for the first time next week, according to its owner.
Rio Viejo Cocina de Mexico at 50 Franklin St. will hold a soft opening on March 23 and a grand opening on March 30, owner Jaime Avila told MassLive on Thursday.
Avila said the grand opening is scheduled for 11 a.m. and will include a ribbon cutting featuring Worcester Mayor Joseph Petty.
"I'm actually incredibly happy, as we've been working on this project for a whole year now, and we're finally going to have the opportunity to serve the city of Worcester," Avila said.
The menu at Rio Viejo Cocina de Mexico will feature authentic dishes such as arroz con pollo and pollo con crema, according to Avila.
Born in Mexico City, Avila has spent nearly half a century in the culinary industry.
Starting as a dishwasher in California when he was 14, Avila worked different positions in the industry, including cook, bartender, server, manager and food truck operator. His culinary career has taken him from California to Washington State, Idaho, North Carolina, Maryland and eventually Massachusetts.
For Avila, the food at Rio Viejo Cocina de Mexico represents the best dishes he's made throughout his career.
"We have all the enthusiasm in the world and are more than ready to get started," he said.
Rio Viejo Cocina de Mexico will be open Sunday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Friday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., according to Avila.
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