Lupita’s Mexican Restaurant, a fixture of the Main/Chicago shopping area for more than a decade, is celebrating 25 years in Evanston. The family-run restaurant began on Benson Avenue and moved to is location at Main Street and Custer Avenue about 15 years ago, said Rene Hernandez, son of Lupita Carson, whose magic touch in the kitchen has kept loyal customers happy for years.
Ms. Carson turns out dishes that appeal to a variety of palates. Chiles nogadas, a standard of her Valentine’s Day “Like Water for Chocolate” (yes, named for the book) menu, are green peppers stuffed with walnuts, raisins and pecans and covered with a creamy walnut sauce. The cazuela, a tomato-based seafood stew, “is heaven for me,” said Mr. Hernandez.
“We’re very family-oriented,” said Mr. Hernandez. “We’ve always had a great relationship with our customers. A lot of them say they feel like they are dining at the house of a friend,” he added.
The official 25th anniversary celebration will begin at 5 p.m. on April 11 with a happy hour of drinks and buffet for $5 and will continue with live music until 10 p.m.