What's Up - Your guide to what's happening in Fayetteville, AR this week!
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featured dining guide story Advertorial Feature By James Carlton | nwa DemoCrat-Gazette Family, fajitas and frozen margaritas 42 What's up! OCtOBER 7 - 13, 2018 Acapulco Mexican restaurant finds home in Northwest Arkansas A fter many years of working in California's hospitality and restaurant industries, Ruben Almazan and his family moved to Northwest Arkansas' land of opportunity and finally opened their dream restaurant. Named after the sunny, beach-resort city on Mexico's Pacific coastline, Acapulco Restaurant is a refreshing reminder to enjoy the finer things in life: family, fajitas and frozen margaritas. "I still really enjoy cooking," says Ruben. It's actually his favorite thing about owning his own restaurant. He has a passion for working in the kitchen, and it shows in the quality of his food. In addition to putting time in behind the scenes as a cook, the active owner also oversees the restaurant's catering ventures. The restaurant has been open for over a decade on East Robinson Avenue in Springdale, and Ruben has kept it a family business, with his wife and their two sets of twins all pitching in to keep it running smoothly. The older twins, his 24-year- old son and daughter, work as a cook and waitress for the restaurant. "My wife comes in to help when she can," Ruben says, "and the [younger] twins help out at the front counter on Sundays, taking to-go orders and hosting when we get busy." Ruben enjoys being part of the community with his family, and uses his restaurant to give back and serve the people of Springdale. "We give food to the church and a lot of the local schools," he says, proud of the investment in his community, with a deep sense of caring and connection. Springdale local Josefina Ramirez lives just five minutes from Acapulco Restaurant, where she has worked for the past ten years as a server and bartender. Her favorite dish is the Grilled Chicken Breast — smothered with mushrooms, bell peppers, onions, and jack cheese. "Everything [on the menu] is good," she says, "but I like the Tortilla Soup and the Burrito Mexicano, too."