Upscale Latin American restaurant opens at Wire Park in Watkinsville

A new upscale Latin American restaurant featuring authentic Mexican foods and fresh-ingredient cocktails opened this month in the Wire Park complex near downtown Watkinsville.

Wire Park off Barnett Shoals Road has a food hall featuring several restaurants, including a brewery, but this is the first full-service restaurant.

Lalo’s Tacos & Cantina is operated by the Lopez Restaurant Group, which also owns Los Primos Taqueria Express in Watkinsville and Cabana Mexican Restaurant with locations in Watkinsville and Bogart.

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But Lalo’s “is a whole different concept” than the other two restaurants, said Juan Lopez, of the Lopez Group and one of the restaurant owners.

Besides the authentic Mexican foods created by an executive chef from Mexico, the “signature drinks” are made of in-house ingredients, according to Lopez.

“We actually squish the lime, squish in the orange and make our own syrup in-house,” Lopez said. “We basically do everything in-house as far as drinks, food, ice cream, bread.”

“It will be unique,” he said about the offerings and dining experience.

The chef, Jesus Mendoza, has a 13-year career in the culinary and hospitality field, according to the business.

The Lopez Group is also opening another restaurant in Athens on Atlanta Highway at the former Appleby’s location, Lopez said, adding they are currently working with city officials on various regulations and should have the restaurant ready to open in June or July.

The group’s first restaurant opened in Watkinsville about nine years ago at Bell’s Shopping Center.

“We’ve been growing with Oconee County. We love the community,” he said.

Lalo’s at Wire Park has a section for outside seating with a fireplace, according to Lopez.

On a recent chilly day, families were gathered at the fireplace, he said, a scene that made him feel good about the location.

“We like to see the community thriving,” he said.

Lalo’s is among several businesses opening at Wire Park in the past two months.

According to an announcement from Wire Park, others who have opened include South Main Brewing, Birdawg Boutique, SOCO Nutrition, Old Fashioned Barber, Sugar Polish Nail Bar and Connect Ministries.

The food hall is still under development and will feature foods from Mama’s Boy, the Original Hot Dog Factory and Gekko Kitchen.

Wire Park is a 66-acre mixed-use development featuring 130 residential units, along with commercial, office and retail space.

This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: New authentic Mexican restaurant Lalo's Tacos & Catina opens in Oconee