'Why not give it a shot?' Father and son team open new restaurant with Latin flair
A father and son team recently welcomed the Morton community to their newest restaurant in central Illinois.
Armando and Isaac Velazquez opened Verandah Cocina Latina in early February. The restaurant – situated in the former ūnum Fine Wine & Whiskey Lounge space – features a fresh new atmosphere and a modern American menu with unique dishes and drinks.
“Everybody in Morton just seems like super excited to have a new restaurant come into town,” Armando said. “And we just hope we do good.”
More: Higher costs force Peoria restaurant owners into a delicate balancing act
‘Why not give it a shot?’
This is not the father-son team’s first foray into the restaurant industry.
Previously in the construction business, Armando said his restaurant journey began with the opening of Salt & Ash in Placentia, California, roughly eight years ago. He later went on to open Long Beach Taco Co., which he continues to operate at 442 E. 1st St., Long Beach in California.
Armando sold Salt & Ash in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, however, and said he felt as though he “was done with the restaurant business.”
Soon enough, however, his son was ready to step into the industry. Isaac said he felt as though the restaurant business offered a good opportunity to invest in his future.
So, Armando agreed to “give it another shot.”
His main stipulation was that he did not want to open another restaurant in California. So, he and Isaac searched for an opportunity outside of the state – which led them to La Cantinita in Galesburg.
They reopened the restaurant in May 2023.
“The restaurant was already operational,” Armando said. “So, we basically like got there, the owner walked out, we walked in and we just kept the ball rolling.”
Armando said business at La Cantinita did well after reopening, so they began the search for a second restaurant in Illinois. The search eventually led them to 120 W. Jefferson St. in Morton.
“We liked it here. So, we said, ‘All right, why not give it a shot,’ you know?” Armando said. “We're already running one restaurant. Let's just run two.”
Armando said the plan is for Isaac to operate both Illinois establishments while he travels between Illinois and California. Though Isaac worked as a server in California, he said La Cantinita was his first experience with managing an establishment. Even so, he said he has been “learning very quickly.”
More: USA TODAY named its Restaurants of the Year. This Peoria favorite made the list
‘A whole new space’
The Morton restaurant was formerly home to ūnum Fine Wine & Whiskey Lounge – which incorporated backlit wine walls on either side of a stone fireplace feature and a cut-out for barrels above the bar.
The goal for Verandah, Armando said, was to ensure customers felt “like, ‘Wow, I’m walking into a whole new space.’”
“So, I wanted to change everything about it,” Armando said.
They did not have to tackle the updates alone, however. Armando said his father came to lend a hand, packing his tools and driving from California to Illinois.
While Isaac helped with demolition, he said his father and grandfather deserved most of the credit for how the space turned out. He described them as “construction people, but also artists at the same time because it looks beautiful.”
Walking in, customers will now find a fireplace feature with sleek stone tiles, a bar with more headroom and large, arched shelving and walls accented with vibrant green tile. When the weather allows, Armando said the restaurant will offer a spacious patio for outdoor dining – which inspired the name Verandah.
“Everything (came) out just like the renderings,” Isaac said. “So, I’m very proud of that.”
More: The best and worst Peoria food inspections for December 2023
Offering a ‘modern American’ menu
Much like the atmosphere, Armando believes the food at Verandah will provide the community with something new.
Isaac said customers will find dishes such as fried avocado tacos and Mojarra Frita, which features red snapper.
Other menu items include:
A Mac & Carnitas appetizer for $16
Birria soup for $7
Carnitas plate for $20
Tacos ranging from $5 to $7
Verandah also offers various brunch options – including a bone marrow French toast – from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday.
Armando said the restaurant opened with a limited menu. Eventually, he said the restaurant will introduce more unique dishes, such as birria ramen, and will offer various specials.
Overall, Armando said the menu will feature some traditional Mexican food, as well as a variety of “modern American” dishes.
“I like to take any other dishes and put a Mexican twist on them,” he said. “It could be a burger. It could be pasta. It could be anything. So, I like to have the freedom to do whatever we want to do in the restaurant.”
Customers at the restaurant will also find a variety of cocktail options, including:
Smoked old fashioned for $12
Mangonada on the rocks for $10
Margarita for $6
Cas-Amigos Forever for $11 – which Isaac described as having “a little bit of Tamarindo sweetness and Mezcal smokiness in it, but all balanced very well.”
Hungry for more food news? Sign up for PJStar Dining
Providing a ‘wonderful experience’
Armando said the initial opening was helpful in learning where the restaurant could continue to improve and perfect operations.
Moving forward, Armando hopes to see Verandah become a space for everyone in the Morton community – from first dates to family dinners to business outings. He said multiple customers have already planned their next visit.
“I really fell in love with the brand we created here, and I love the menu and I see where we're going with the menu,” Armando said. “My hope is just that Morton falls in love with it and that we even start getting customers from Peoria.”
Eventually, Armando said he can envision the Verandah concept expanding beyond Morton to include additional locations.
For now, though, Armando and Isaac are grateful for the positive response they have received so far – both from customers and the broader Morton community.
“I hope to see every seat filled and provide the people of Morton and surrounding areas with a wonderful experience,” Isaac said. “And having them to return back here with a smile on their face. That’s the goal.”
More: 4 more Peoria restaurants we wish were on USA TODAY's Restaurants of the Year list
Connect with Verandah
Address: 120 W. Jefferson St., Morton
Hours: 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. Monday, 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday.
Reservations: Customers can make a reservation through Yelp or by calling the restaurant at (309) 321-8314. Armando said reservations are strongly recommended.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VerandahMorton
'Unspeakable sadness': Pour Bros. employee dies after shooting in Champaign, Illinois
This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Father and son team open new Latin-inspired restaurant in Peoria area
