Carter's hot dog stand and Greek's Pizzeria have a new competitor providing a taste from south of the border to the late night crowd in the Village.
El Camino opened its doors for the first time last Thursday, owner Felipe Polito said.
"It was always my dream to have my own business," Polito said. "I can't believe it. It's exciting, but it also makes me nervous."
The restaurant is in the former La Bamba Restaurant location on University Avenue.
"When it used to be La Bamba's I used to always see people," Polito said. "When they moved I was kind of surprised. I was like 'Why did they move?' We needed a Mexican restaurant here. I thought it would be a good idea."
El Camino is open from 5 p.m. until 3 a.m. on weekdays and until 4 a.m. on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. The restaurant will open for lunch at 11 a.m. after more help is hired, he said.
Polito runs the restaurant with the help of his wife and a close friend, he said. The restaurant is accepting applications, and the owner hopes to have enough employees hired to open for lunch and make deliveries by next week, he said.
Customers can sit down to a family-style meal until 10 p.m., Polito said. After 10 p.m. the customers order from a different menu at the counter like in a fast food restaurant, he said.
El Camino also makes special orders if possible, Polito said.
"If I don't have something [on the menu] and there is something a customer wants and I have the necessary ingredients, I will go ahead and make it," Polito said. "Making the customer happy is what is most important."
Polito based his choices for the menu off observations he made about what people liked to eat most, he said.
"I've been working in restaurants for many years," he said. "I saw what people like."
El Camino's daytime menu isn't finished yet, but the late night menu features burritos, quesadillas, nachos, tacos and taco salads, Polito said.
Friend Liz Hinga said Polito tested his menu selections before opening the restaurant.
"He's a really good cook," Hinga said. "I tried his shrimp fajitas, and they were amazing. The salsa is also really good because it is made fresh."
Polito said he named the restaurant for the Chevrolet El Camino.
"There were other names I was thinking about," Polito said. "One day I saw an El Camino and was like 'Wow, I remember that car.'"
Polito plans to have employees make deliveries in El Caminos after enough people have been hired, he said. He has already purchased two of the vehicles, he said.
El Camino targets Ball
State University students as its primary customers, but it also wants to start attracting Muncie residents, Polito said.
Customer Cassie Beal said the restaurant has good food, drinks and service.
Customer Kathy Morris said, "We've been waiting for a Mexican restaurant to come back to the Village."
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