New Mexican restaurant opens

Diners have a new option for Mexican food in Jamestown at La Caretta, a restaurant in the new strip mall with a name that means “the feed wagon” in Spanish.

The restaurant, which opened on Feb. 19, eighth Mexican restaurant in the region belonging to Owner and Operator Sergio Aguirre. He has six in South Dakota and one in Minnesota.

Aguirre said his secret to success is hard work plus an extensive knowledge in the kitchen.

Aguirre started in the restaurant business 20 years ago as a cook. He uses his experience to train the chefs at every location for every dish.

That experience and knowledge is used on everything from signature dishes like fajitas Mazatlan, or chile Colorado, to simple favorites like tacos and burritos, he said.

“We’re going to have a little bit for everybody, we like to have variety,” Aguirre said.

The menu at La Caretta offers customers more than 100 choices in a variety of Mexican favorites, he said.

For Aguirre it’s the subtle differences, like hotter salsa and specially prepared rice and beans that have made his other locations successful. He said he is also finding repeat customers in Jamestown, like one customer who has eaten at the restaurant six times in four days.

The restaurant also offers a variety of alcoholic beverages with a full bar, margaritas and draft beer.

There are daily lunch specials at La Caretta as well as food and drink specials.

Aguirre selected Jamestown for his next restaurant location because the population size can support two Mexican resturants, he said.

He also said the drive from his home in Aberdeen, S.D., is not too long.

La Caretta is open from 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. daily.

Aguirre said he is looking forward becoming established in Jamestown and that he is thankful for the customers he has already had.

“Anyone that likes Mexican food I think will like it here,” he said.

Sun reporter Ben Rodgers can be reached at 701-952-8455

or by e-mail at brodgers@jamestownsun.com

Tags: local business, la caretta, business, restaurant