BERLIN– After leaving a bad taste in many customers’ mouths, one local restaurant rebranded, changed their menu and renovated the interior. The results, so far, have been extremely positive.
Tex Mex on 119 Main Street changed to Tex Mex & Country Cookin’, adding a southern slant to their southwestern slate of offerings.
The restaurant also hired a new manager, Donna Smith, in April.
“I really can’t say if it’s me or us being the coolest small town in America, but business has definitely increased,” Smith said. “We changed the menu in March and had the whole re-launch. We put booths in and the menu went more to southwest Texas-style country cooking, not just strictly Mexican food the way it was.”
During the winter, the restaurant closed for renovations, and management and ownership held a brainstorming session.
“We were trying to figure out what we could do to increase sales and get rid of this reputation,” Smith said. “Everyone around the town says good things. I had a lot of people back that said they would never come back here again, so they’re liking the changes and the food. That’s definitely a positive thing.”
Now, along with tortillas and taco salads, the restaurant offers oyster and catfish po’boys along with burgers, wings and more than a few dishes featuring fried green tomatoes.
“The lunch menu went more southern-style with barbeque and brisket,” Smith said. “We have a fried green BLT, which is a huge seller. It’s basically a BLT, but instead of a red tomato it’s a fried green tomato. We sell a lot of those.”
Popular Mexican dishes include tortilla soup with chili, “Red Neck” con queso and tacos. Smith said the oyster fritter and fried green tomato appetizers are top-sellers on the dinner menu, along with shrimp and grits, buttermilk-fried chicken and pineapple barbeque salmon.
“Of course we also always have a special of the day, and we have a different choice of barbeque sauce for all the smoked meats,” Smith said. “You can pick whichever one you want – catfish is a big seller.
“We’re basically trying to combine Texas with Mexican, but more country,” Smith continued. “A lot of things are smoked, which people have had nothing but good comments about.”
The restaurant sources seafood and produce locally. The bread comes from a local bakery, and a garden on the premises provides fresh herbs and spices.
“Hopefully we keep getting busier and busier,” Smith said. “We are starting to book the upstairs with a lot of events, which is what I wanted to do because it just sat empty up there and it’s beautiful. We’ve already had a couple events and we have a huge event on July 17 – the Lower Maryland Association for the Eastern Shore. All the mayors from all over Maryland are coming for their dinner/banquet. I’m hoping, if all goes well with that, we can keep booking that room up there for events.
“We’ve also done a lot more to the outside, adding more tables and umbrellas,” Smith said. “In Berlin there’s really not outdoor seating anywhere but here. It’s a ghost town inside when it’s nice out – everybody goes outside.”
Tex Mex & Country Cookin’ is open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sunday-Thursday and 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.
For more information call 410-629-1010 or visit www.texmexandcountrycookn.com.
Tex Mex on 119 Main Street changed to Tex Mex & Country Cookin’, adding a southern slant to their southwestern slate of offerings.
The restaurant also hired a new manager, Donna Smith, in April.
“I really can’t say if it’s me or us being the coolest small town in America, but business has definitely increased,” Smith said. “We changed the menu in March and had the whole re-launch. We put booths in and the menu went more to southwest Texas-style country cooking, not just strictly Mexican food the way it was.”
During the winter, the restaurant closed for renovations, and management and ownership held a brainstorming session.
“We were trying to figure out what we could do to increase sales and get rid of this reputation,” Smith said. “Everyone around the town says good things. I had a lot of people back that said they would never come back here again, so they’re liking the changes and the food. That’s definitely a positive thing.”
Now, along with tortillas and taco salads, the restaurant offers oyster and catfish po’boys along with burgers, wings and more than a few dishes featuring fried green tomatoes.
“The lunch menu went more southern-style with barbeque and brisket,” Smith said. “We have a fried green BLT, which is a huge seller. It’s basically a BLT, but instead of a red tomato it’s a fried green tomato. We sell a lot of those.”
Popular Mexican dishes include tortilla soup with chili, “Red Neck” con queso and tacos. Smith said the oyster fritter and fried green tomato appetizers are top-sellers on the dinner menu, along with shrimp and grits, buttermilk-fried chicken and pineapple barbeque salmon.
“Of course we also always have a special of the day, and we have a different choice of barbeque sauce for all the smoked meats,” Smith said. “You can pick whichever one you want – catfish is a big seller.
“We’re basically trying to combine Texas with Mexican, but more country,” Smith continued. “A lot of things are smoked, which people have had nothing but good comments about.”
The restaurant sources seafood and produce locally. The bread comes from a local bakery, and a garden on the premises provides fresh herbs and spices.
“Hopefully we keep getting busier and busier,” Smith said. “We are starting to book the upstairs with a lot of events, which is what I wanted to do because it just sat empty up there and it’s beautiful. We’ve already had a couple events and we have a huge event on July 17 – the Lower Maryland Association for the Eastern Shore. All the mayors from all over Maryland are coming for their dinner/banquet. I’m hoping, if all goes well with that, we can keep booking that room up there for events.
“We’ve also done a lot more to the outside, adding more tables and umbrellas,” Smith said. “In Berlin there’s really not outdoor seating anywhere but here. It’s a ghost town inside when it’s nice out – everybody goes outside.”
Tex Mex & Country Cookin’ is open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sunday-Thursday and 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.
For more information call 410-629-1010 or visit www.texmexandcountrycookn.com.