A South Austin couple with 10 years of experience operating South First Street food truck Mellizoz Tacos now has one year under their belt as Sunset Valley restaurateurs.
Jessica Galindo-Winters and husband, Adam Winters, own and operate Cruzteca, which opened in March 2018 offering traditional Mexican plates with a modern twist as well as a full breakfast menu and a bar.
Galindo-Winters said both her and her husband’s families have a history in the restaurant business. The Winters name can be found attached to old restaurants from Western times, she said. Galindo-Winters’ parents owned an Austin restaurant, and her brother was a chef before they all teamed up to launch Mellizoz Tacos in 2009.
“Restaurants are in our blood,” Galindo-Winters said. “Even Adam’s grandparents had a concession at [the University of Texas] football stadium.”
Harking to their food truck roots, Cruzteca patrons order food at the counter, a process Galindo-Winters said they were comfortable with. However, employees run food and take additional orders at the table, offering more of a traditional dine-in approach.
The restaurant also offers more flexibility than the food truck, including an expanded menu. Winters said old customers are pleasantly surprised when they recognize food offered at the food truck’s menu.
“Some people who we haven’t seen in five years will come in and see the menu and notice the names are the same,” he said. “People that knew us from the food truck but had moved further south are now coming with their families as they find us. That’s been really cool.”
Traditional Mexican dishes, such as seasoned ground beef in crispy tacos and rice and beans are menu staples. But some items have new twists based on old family recipes, Galindo-Winters said. For example, the enchilada menu features dishes with tomatillo, ranchero or mole sauce. However, while traditional mole sauce uses chocolate and nuts as an ingredient, Cruzteca uses Nutella and tops it with sesame seeds.
Breakfast options include build-your-own tacos and classic plates, such as huevos rancheros.
Gluten-free and vegan options are also available for those with food restrictions.
