In the summer of 1999, Sergio Espinosa decided to use his years of experience working in the restaurant industry to open his own business, La Escondida Grill in Stafford. Specializing in authentic Mexican food, Espinosa's guests can order made-to-order guacamole, housemade tortillas and a range of traditional entrees.

"The Hispanic culture is very service oriented," Espinosa said. "[Hispanics] are very hospitable. There is no place to live like the United States, but there is no place to vacation like Mexico. From the very beginning, we made sure we had that feeling of true Mexican hospitality. We really want to bring out the culture."

In October 2006, Espinosa moved his operation to a new Missouri City shopping center along Hwy. 6—the Shops at Rocky Creek Crossing—that features a Texas-inspired ambience and several local businesses.

"Our first location we inherited, but [the Hwy. 6] location allowed us to build from the ground up," Espinosa said. "We were able to make [the restaurant] more efficient."

Espinosa kept certain themes from the original location, such as the dining room's dark wood and brick features. Espinosa said he sought to establish a casual atmosphere while maintaining an elegant menu and dcor.

The restaurant features multiple dining areas including an outdoor patio, a full-service bar and lounge and a private room that can seat 50-60 people.

For Espinosa, along with restaurant manager and business partner Eduardo Alfaro, making La Escondida Grill a fun place to eat and work is almost as important as using authentic recipes and fresh ingredients, he said.

"We have a lot of longevity with our staff," Espinosa said. "It helps us be efficient and gives our restaurant a home-like feel. We really are a mom and pop kind of establishment. We have the freedom to try different things.

Although the menu offers several traditional Mexican dishes, such as enchiladas, housemade tamales and fajitas, Espinosa said he wanted to offer more choices that reflected his time growing up in Mexico City. Some of the most popular items include the menu's mole dishes ($14), the carnitas and the barbecue tacos ($14) served with a tequila barbecue sauce. The restaurant also offers a breakfast menu on the weekends.

"We are a little bit different," Espinosa said. "We have a Mexico City-style restaurant. That is where the flavors of the authentic dishes come from. We started out with our family recipes and have continued to expand our menu."

Espinosa also lived in Louisiana, where he learned several new recipes that show up on the menu at La Escondida, such as the chipotle mashed potatoes. In addition, the restaurant offers a series of combination plates ($9.50–$12.50), which can include tacos, enchiladas, fajitas and a selection of sides. For families or larger parties, La Escondida offers its parrillada dinner ($70), a mix of chicken and beef fajitas topped with shrimp and served with vegetables, potatoes, pico de gallo and freshly made guacamole.

After deciding to hold off on opening a second location last year, Espinosa began to focus heavily on the catering side of the business. The number of orders has more than tripled, he said.

"We have been staying very busy with our catering," Espinosa said. "We do more corporate events and catering to people's homes, but we do everything. We always have to be growing and bettering ourselves to be the best at what we do."

Tequila dinners

La Escondida hosts dinners that bring in an expert in the tequila industry. The restaurant creates a menu that uses the featured tequilas in different ways.

Call for reservations and pricing.

First Course

Light appetizer, such as fresh fruit cocktail, served with a tequila cocktail

Second Course

Light entree, such as a shrimp cocktail, served with a traditional cocktail

Third Course

A hearty entree, such as La Escondida's pork loin, served with a specialty drink

Fourth Course

A decadent dessert, such as the tres leches, served with reserve tequila

Platos de Mxico

Missouri City restaurateur Sergio Espinosa brings his family recipes to the table at La Escondida Grill. Dishes range from traditional Mexican cuisine to more distinctive modern options.

Owner recommendations

Mole

A grilled chicken breast covered in La Escondida's housemade mole sauce ($14)

Enslata de res

Mixed greens tossed tableside with tomatoes, cojita cheese, jicama and shredded beef served with Mexican vinaigrette ($12)

Pork rib-eye

An 8-ounce cut grilled and served with a serrano-infused sauce, yucca fries and grilled vegetables ($14)

7270 Hwy. 6, Ste. 500

Missouri City 281-403-3306

www.laescondidagrill.com

Hours: Sun.–Sat., 11 a.m.–10 p.m.