Rio Viejo Cocina De Mexico, Worcester’s newest Mexican food restaurant, is open for business.
Rio Viejo Cocina De Mexico, Worcester’s newest Mexican food restaurant, is open for business.
Situated at 50 Franklin St., Rio Viejo opened its doors on Monday, one year after Owner Jaime Avila selected the location.
Avila said the idea to open Rio Viejo came from the customers of his Middleton food truck, Taco Libre, who wanted a sit-down facility to enjoy his food. Avila and his wife opened Taco Libre in 2022, using recipes Avila had been working on throughout his 12 years as a chef.
“We want to have fun. We want everybody to feel welcome. Have a good meal, have a good drink, and that's it,” said Avila.
Rio Viejo offers a range of classic Mexican dishes, including fajitas, burritos, street tacos, and quesadillas. The restaurant serves appetizers including nachos, wings, and guacamole and desserts such as deep-fried ice cream and churros.
When searching for a location to open Rio Viejo, Avila had originally been looking for a place closer to Middleton, but wasn’t finding a space that fit his needs. Looking out further, his realtor showed him 50 Franklin St.
“We just fell in love,” said Avila. “We want to be a part of Worcester.”
The restaurant will host a grand opening on Monday, with the first 100 customers receiving either a free appetizer or dessert. Worcester Mayor Joe Petty will attend a ribbon cutting ceremony at 11 a.m. followed by a DJ-ed music starting at 2 p.m.
Rio Viejo is open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.
Mica Kanner-Mascolo is a staff writer at Worcester Business Journal, who primarily covers the healthcare, manufacturing, and higher education industries.
