Misael Jaimes spent 27 years working in an authentic Mexican restaurant in Chicago before he and his wife, Ariadna, moved to Georgetown to be closer to family two and a half years ago.

Misael went to work in construction and Ariadna—nicknamed Nena—worked at Los Dos Hermanos restaurant before working as a day care teacher. But soon after she left, Ariadna’s former boss and owner of Dos Hermanos said she was looking to sell the restaurant.

Since Misael had the experience and Ariadna knew the place, the Jaimeses decided to take over the business Feb. 1, 2019. They renamed it Nena’s Cazuelas.

Adorned with brightly painted walls; colorful paper banners, known as papel picado; serapes and sombreros, the restaurant prides itself on its authenticity, serving dishes traditional to Mexico’s coasts, including seafood.

Misael said most of the nearby Mexican restaurants serve Tex-Mex food, but Nena’s does not.

“The idea was always to do authentic Mexican food because that is what I know,” Misael said. “This is what I did for 27 years.”

Some of the restaurant’s specialties include enchiladas, empanadas, tamales, pozole and its most popular, Especial de la Casa, which is steak topped with beans and onions and served with a quesadilla, rice and tortillas.

“It’s delicious and very popular, so we sell a lot,” Misael said of the special.

Seafood options include fish tacos, shrimp empanadas and seafood soup. On weekends, the restaurant sells menudo.

They also have several alcoholic drinks, including margaritas, piña coladas and micheladas, a Mexican red beer. Misael said the Nena’s Premium Margarita is his favorite.

Misael said the restaurant was impacted by the coronavirus pandemic, and though it offered takeout, business was still very slow. But since the dining room has reopened at limited capacity, he said he has seen business picking up again.