Several years ago there were numerous vacancies in downtown Griffith, but Patty Zuniga fell in love anyway.
“We just loved the town,” said Zuniga, who co-owns Zuchez Restaurant & Bar with her brother Daniel Zuniga and their friend Jaime Sanchez Jr.
“It’s a quaint and cozy town where everybody knows everybody. Downtown Griffith has that old-town feel. Everybody’s walking around saying, ‘Hi,’ to each other. That’s what really attracted us to the neighborhood — just the ambiance of it all.”
Here is the dish on this local establishment, which opened in late September:
On the menu: “We wanted to create a one-stop shop for fun and food,” said Zuniga, of East Chicago. She comes up with the recipes, which are executed by head chef Stella Lopez. A mini cafe offers all-you-can-drink coffee and Mexican sweet bread from La Central Panaderia, of East Chicago. There is also a full breakfast menu.
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About the owners: “I started waitressing when I was 16. I’ve been in the hospitality industry all my life,” said Zuniga, who studied in the Careers through Culinary Arts Program while at George Washington High School in Chicago. Zuniga’s brother, of East Chicago, co-owns SPL Rentals, a Chicago-based company that does light shows, video recording and sound checks for concerts and special events. Sanchez, of Hammond, used to be a touring entertainer and promoter. “We put all of our areas of expertise together,” said Zuniga, who has a business degree from Brown Mackie College-Merrillville.
A mission statement: “We cater to the working-class people. It’s somewhere they can go relax and have a good time either with family or for date night when they want to get away from the kids,” said Zuniga, the mother of four daughters — Angelica, Alicia, Natalie and Naomi Casares. “We wanted to do something local for the locals. A lot of our patrons love that they can just walk here.”
Decor: “It’s very sleek, simple and sophisticated. Red and black is our color scheme. We did some research. Red opens up the appetite and black mellows you out,” said Zuniga about Zuchez, which seats nearly 100 in the restaurant and approximately 150 in the bar area. “We want to be the place where people feel comfortable. We’re here for the people so we try as much as possible to cater to them.”
Specialties: “What we can’t keep stocked enough is our homemade, handmade burgers with our secret seasonings. They’re charbroiled and on gourmet buns. They’re very delicious, half pound and half-inch thick,” Zuniga said. Other popular dishes include Italian beef, fish n’ chips and chicken tenders. Drink specialties include the 56-ounce margarita in apple, lime, mango, raspberry, strawberry or watermelon and martinis such as apple, blood orange, caramel macchiato, Godiva chocolate and raspberry.
We’re different because: Zuchez After Dark runs from 7 p.m.-3 a.m. for ages 21 and older. “We’re a nightclub feel on the weekends. During the week we’re more of a laid-back, loungy place,” said Zuniga, noting there is karaoke on Wednesdays, a disc jockey on Fridays and Saturdays, frequent theme nights and occasional live entertainers and jam nights. “We try to bring a different variety of events and a little bit for everybody.”
Prices: Start at $3 for soup or healthy selections, $3.49 for breakfast, $5 for kiddie feasts, $8 for classics and $8.50 for homemade sandwiches.
Logistics: Zuchez Restaurant & Bar is at 211 N. Broad St., Griffith. Hours are 6 a.m.-3 a.m. Mondays-Saturdays and 10 a.m.-midnight Sundays. Only ages 21 and older are allowed after 7 p.m. Call 219-595-0103 or go to www.facebook.com/zuchez211.
Jessi Virtusio is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.