One of the longest running restaurants in the Cy-Fair area, Natalita’s Mexican Restaurant has been serving customers on Jones Road for just over 30 years. While other businesses and restaurants have come and gone throughout nearby shopping centers, the family-friendly neighborhood eatery has remained.

“The saying for our restaurant has always been ‘Mi casa es su casa’,” General Manager Gerardo Buenrostro said. “We want people to feel like they are at home, both through the food we serve and the atmosphere.”

Food is cooked fresh by the kitchen team, who arrive at 7 a.m. each morning to prepare food for the day, Buenrostro said.

Natalita’s Mexican Restaurant has been serving customers on Jones Road since 1985. Natalita’s Mexican Restaurant has been serving customers on Jones Road since 1985.[/caption]

The menu contains popular Tex-Mex items as well as seafood and traditional Mexican plates. Combo plates allow customers to try multiple items in one meal. Natalita’s special, for example, includes guacamole salad, chile con queso, beef taco, tamale and a Mexican pepper and cheese enchilada.

The menu is updated at least once a year, which gives chefs a chance to try new items, Buenrostro said. Pechuga Natalita’s, a chicken dinner plate, was added in December, he said.

The appetizer nachos compuestos ($7.95) is served with refried beans and jalapenos. The appetizer nachos compuestos ($7.95) is served with refried beans and jalapenos.[/caption]

“It’s a recent addition, but people really love it,” he said. “We cover the chicken with mushroom sauce and bell peppers. It’s different than any of our other chicken plates.”

Natalita’s also has a liquor license and serves alcoholic drinks from a bar within the restaurant. Margaritas are the most popular drink option, Buenrostro said, and his bartenders can make many different kinds.

Patrons at Natalita’s can sit at a number of indoor booths and tables, as well as at an outdoor patio area. The interior of the restaurant is set to be warm and inviting, General Manager Gerardo Buenrostro said. Paintings and photos of scenes from Mexico hang on the walls. “It’s nothing flashy, but people feel like they can relax and enjoy themselves,” Buenrostro said. “It’s a quiet place. People like that about it, too.” Patrons at Natalita’s can sit at a number of indoor booths and tables, as well as at an outdoor patio area.[/caption]

After three decades of service, Natalita’s maintains a solid clientele of regulars, which has helped keep business strong, Buenrostro said. The menu will always evolve, but there are no plans to make major changes, he said.

“The most important thing to us at this point is to make sure we continue to serve quality food made with quality ingredients,” Buenrostro said. “Other places might get complacent when they’ve been around this long, but that’s not happening here. We want to make sure everyone leaves with a smile on their faces.”

17470 Hwy. 290, Houston 713-937-6559 www.natalitasrestaurant.com Hours: Mon.-Thu. 11 a.m.-9:30 p.m., Fri.-Sat. 11 a.m.-10 p.m.,Sun. 11 a.m.-9 p.m.