Carlos Rivero stands outside of El Sapo Bontanas y Burgers.[/caption]

 

When Carlos Rivero realized his lifelong dream by opening his first restaurant in 2003, he said he did not envision it would be the start of his own local restaurant chain called El Chile Group.

Rivero went from one restaurant in 2003 to a half-dozen Central Austin locations in 2015.

Rivero said he attributes El Chile Group's success to his team of chefs and other staff. His inspiration for the multiple food concepts stem from his upbringing in San Antonio, he said.

"I grew up in a Mexican food factory, I would say, and its sort of in the blood I guess," Rivero said.

Rivero said he always intended to open a casual eatery with a taco-focused menu as well as a sit-down restaurant. As space and new opportunities emerged, so, too, would new restaurant concepts, such as adding Tex-Mex flair to hamburgers.

With more than a decade in the restaurant business, Rivero said ongoing trends suggest continued success for El Chilito, which in late 2014 debuted a second location on East Seventh Street.

"There's certainly a move to have more vegetarian items on the menu," Rivero said. "There's such a move for fast-casual because it seems like nobody cooks anymore, and everyone just wants something quick and on the go."

Rivero and his team are readying for their next project to debut. AlcoMar is named after El Alma chef Alma Alcocer and El Chile chef Jeff Martinez. The restaurant's menu will intertwine Mexican and seafood dishes in the South First Street space currently occupied by the second El Chile.

"We've had such a big hit with our recent new creations," Rivero said. "Seafood is one of my favorite cuisines, and I've been wanting to do a more upscale, seafood-Mexican concept for some time."