Laid-Back Mexican Food
Jamie Baratta, co-owner and head chef of Norteños Taqueria, at the new cantina
The new cantina will host live entertainment and Latin dance groups
Norteños Taqueria Expands Into Iconic Location on Red River Road
By Roxann Shapwaykeesic
Jamie Baratta and brother Dillon Baratta have partnered with Keith Buna to open a second, larger location for their Mexican restaurant Norteños Taqueria, which translates roughly into “northern taco shop.” At the former iconic Apollo Bar location on Red River Road, Jamie hopes to create a laid-back atmosphere for patrons to enjoy Mexican food in a cantina setting.
“We have room for 150-plus seats, a bigger bar, and to have TVs set up for sporting events,” says Jamie. The stage was expanded to host live entertainment and Latin dance groups. They hope to have salsa nights, DJs, and possibly karaoke.
Jamie took the culinary program at Confederation College and was inspired during his years living in Mexico and Lima, Peru. “In Mexico, I was going to the market every day and buying fresh ingredients and learning about different peppers, different spices, and different cooking methods. But when the pandemic started I came home.”
Jamie and Dillon “made tacos one night,” and that’s when they decided to open the first Norteños Taqueria location in Westfort in October 2020. They operated mainly on a take-out model, then later added a patio in the summers. They can also be found on Skip the Dishes.
“We make [our tacos] all in-house. We make all the shells, the dough,” he says. “We try to serve them exactly like you would find on the street. We tried to keep everything as Mexican as possible.”
At the new location, the tacos will be the same as they are in Westfort, and the basic menu will be the same. “Our most popular dish is probably the birria tacos. We have three tortillas, and we dip them in beef broth and then fry them on the flat top. Then we add cheese and our braised beef. We started making a burrito ramen as well. We use bone broth and put that in a cup with the tacos and some limes. You get three crispy beef and cheese tacos and a little broth beside it.”
The new location will offer typical bottled beer, craft beer on tap, and cocktails, with a goal to have something for everyone. They will also have a variety of tequilas and mezcals to make margaritas and specialized drinks. “The goal is to have a relaxed environment where people can be themselves because that’s what a cantina is.”
Once the final kitchen renovations are completed, the location will likely open in late spring. Norteños Taqueria is also available to book private parties until then.
For more information, visit nortenostaqueria.com.