If you’re looking for a spot in Hyde Park Square that brings bold flavors, fresh ingredients, and a welcoming vibe, MexCantina is a must-visit. We recently celebrated my husband’s birthday there, and it was an unforgettable evening filled with delicious food, unique drinks, and great company. After my visit, I had the chance to speak with the owner, Jose Iniguez, to learn more about what makes MexCantina so special.
What inspired you to bring Mex Cantina to Hyde Park Square, and what makes this location special for you?
My partners and I looked for several options to open MexCantina all around southeast Ohio, and also a couple in Florida and South Carolina, for over a year. One day, our REALTOR® brought this location to our attention, and we all agreed this was the best place for us and our concept. I like to think that Hyde Park Square found us and not the other way around, and we are thankful to be in such a special place for years to come.
When guests visit for the first time, what dish or drink do you always recommend they try—and why?
I always recommend trying something different than what they would usually get at a Mexican Restaurant. Our menu shares some of the dishes people are accustomed to, but we do think differently here at MexCantina. We prepare all of our ingredients in house (marinated, salsas, specialty meats, tortillas, desserts, etc.), so anything you try here will be a flavor you would not find anywhere else. As for drinks, we found our own Blackberry Mojito to be really popular, but we do have other unique drinks in our menu, like the Lovebug, MexCantina Margarita, Jose Jose, and Blueberry Mule, amongst others.
How do you balance authentic Mexican recipes with the unique tastes of the Hyde Park community?
We knew that being at the heart of Hyde Park was going to be a challenge, because being so close to Cincinnati, the options are almost endless when it comes to good food. Also, the people here have very sophisticated palates, but we are confident in our product and know that people would be able to notice that here at MexCantina, we put our heart into everything we do.
Beyond the food, what kind of atmosphere and experience do you want guests to walk away with?
I’m here 6 days a week, so in reality I want the experience for our guests to feel like home, to see the same faces they are familiar with every time they come in. After a while, you build a bond—customer to employee—that makes every visit more pleasant, and they’re no longer customers; they become friends.
What’s next for MexCantina—are there any exciting new dishes, events, or plans on the horizon?
We definitely will be working on new dishes and drinks for the upcoming months. Other than that, we are focusing more on putting our name out there, and we are confident that word-of-mouth will do its thing to help us achieve the success we are looking for.
Follow Mex Cantina on Instagram and Facebook for the latest dishes, drinks, and events in Hyde Park!
(Photos courtesy of Jose’ Iniguez)
See more from your Neighborhood Guide, Valerie Woodham.
