EASTON, Pa. — Mexico Lindo, a popular Bethlehem restaurant, is opening its second location this Friday at 325 Cattell Street in Easton’s College Hill neighborhood.
Co-owner Jose Avilas, who has operated the original Mexico Lindo since 2009, is maintaining the restaurant’s authentic approach at the new location.
“Same cooking style, nothing will change,” Avilas said during an interview. “Same thing, nothing will change.”
Avilas, who took over the Bethlehem restaurant after seeing a “for sale” sign, comes from a family with deep culinary roots.
His grandfather ran a taco stand in Mexico, a tradition briefly continued by his father.
Before purchasing Mexico Lindo, Avilas worked in various food service positions, including at an Italian restaurant and in banquet services.
The business is co-owned by Avilas and his wife, Delia, who handles “bookkeeping, waitressing, and cash register” responsibilities.
They also employ long-time staff member Jose Luis, whom Avilas considers “part of the family already.”
The expansion to Easton came about similarly to his original acquisition. “I was driving one day, you know, I saw this place that was closed, I reached out to the owner, you know, we got into an agreement,” Avilas explained.
The new location is about the same size but offers “more comfortable working spaces” compared to the somewhat tight quarters of the Bethlehem restaurant.
The Easton restaurant will feature the same menu, though Avilas is still considering whether to offer weekly specials like the original location’s Taco Tuesday.
For the opening this Friday, Avilas plans to offer food samples. “We just want to have a taste of what we’ll be offering. So we’re going to have a little table there where people can try things out,” he said.
Avilas noted that a Facebook post about the new location received 16,000 views within two days of being posted, suggesting significant community interest in the expansion.
Unlike many restaurants in Easton, Avilas confirmed Mexico Lindo will continue its policy of not charging for chips when customers dine-in, maintaining the approach that has worked well at the Bethlehem location.
You can find their full menu here: https://mexicolindobethlehem.com//menu.php
