{Lunch special at Chaparritos}
Chaparritos Mexican Restaurant opened doors in February at 2812 Cherokee St., the former home of El Cielito Lindo, as reported by St. Louis Magazine, and serving up owner Rafael Marcelino’s fresh take on Mexican fare.
“Chaparritos means ‘Shorty,’ and that was my nickname growing up,” Marcelino said. All Chaparritos’ menu items are made in-house, and all meat (the restaurant offers pork, steak and chicken) is marinated 24 hours.
The menu is made up of appetizers, including quesadillas, chicken wings and nachos, and lunch and dinner offerings. The lineup of Mexican favorites includes tamales, enchiladas and chimichangas, along with seafood options like fish tacos and ceviche, and larger entrees like carne asada, chile verde and pollo adobado.
On the beverage side, look for a selection of Mexican sodas and juices. A full drink menu and happy hour specials will soon be available. “We’re still waiting on our liquor license to go through,” Marcelino said. “It should be any day now.”
The 14-seat restaurant offers table service, and carryout orders can also be placed by phone. Chaparritos is open daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
This article appears in Guide to Beer 2015.