Popular Bar Reopens Today After Renovations

The popularity of neighborhood restaurant and bar Nacho Mama's--which closed in late February due to a change of ownership and for renovations--was confirmed last night as it reopened with a private party to the chagrin of over 30 prospective diners who were turned away. Nacho Mama's officially opens to the general public today.

New owner Joseph Aguilera held an invitation-only party last night to showcase the restaurant's new menu and décor. Party attendees included George Giaquinto Jr., Columbia's director of Commercial Leasing & Development, and Bill Scott, the deputy vice president of Institutional Real Estate.

Giaquinto said "It looks like more of a family place now with the better lighting and everything. This food is just great, too."

Nacho Mama's new menu is more diverse and includes rotisserie chicken and an array of Mexican selections. Aguilera believes that the new Nacho Mama's offers better quality food than it did before, and he credits new chef Manny Pena for the improvements.

By attempting to change the quality of Nacho Mama's food, Aguilera is addressing what seemed to have been a common complaint from student diners about the restaurant under previous management.

"The food was never very good at Nacho Mama's in comparison to the prices," said Ariana Lorenzana, BC '04. "I don't know if many people went there expecting a great meal. Hopefully it's improved now."

Sophia Guglietti, BC '04, agreed. "The food was never that good before, but I guess I'll give it another chance because I've heard they've changed some things around now."

"The food at the old Nacho Mama's was decidedly average. It was very, very, very OK. I was never blown away by the food before. I'll definitely see how it's changed, though," said Megan Bramlette, SEAS '02.

New ownership has not only brought changes in the restaurant's food. Nacho Mama's has also been renovated with better lighting, more colorful décor, and space for large groups to sit at the back of the restaurant.

Aguilera, commenting on the expanded area at the restaurant's rear, said "We hope to attract parties and give large groups of community members an area to enjoy a meal together.

Nacho Mama's will also be expanding its services as it moves into the catering business. Aguilera said, "Manny loves to cater, so we expect to be doing a lot of catering for parties and other events in the neighborhood."

Aguilera hopes to attract a wider clientele with the restaurant's renovations.

"We want to serve a more diverse group than the old Nacho Mama's," he said. "There is a wider market in this area than Columbia and Barnard students. These renovations will make Nacho Mama's more appealing to the local family market and a broader age bracket."

Despite its proposed change in focus, the new Nacho Mama's retains many of the old features that made it so popular with students. The bar remains unchanged and Nacho Mama's will continue to have the same nighttime atmosphere as it did before. In addition, it will continue to serve the same drinks at the same prices.

"We've even kept some of the old bartenders because we weren't looking to change that aspect of the restaurant as much as the dining experience," explained Aguilera.

Another aspect of Nacho Mama's that remains relatively unchanged is menu prices. "The prices will be about equal, but we did lower them in some cases. However, the customers will receive better quality for the money," said Aguilera.

Furthermore, Nacho Mama's will continue to deliver. "We definitely will do a lot of delivery business, especially to Columbia," noted Aguilera.

Aguilera brings prior restaurant ownership experience to his management of Nacho Mama's. He used to own Gabriela's, a Mexican restaurant with two locations in Manhattan, the closest on Amsterdam at 93rd Street.

Aguilera said, "Manny and I were both the driving forces behind the success of Gabriela's, and we can do the same here."