Historic Coronado Restaurant To Be Revived | Famous Mexican Village Cocina Y Cantina To Open In Former Spicy House Space

September 5, 2018

The original founders of Nicky Rotten's have turned their attention on reviving a historic Coronado eatery. After a two month remodel of the space last occupied by Spicy House, Mexican Village Cocina y Cantina will open this week in the same historic building that housed the original restaurant of the same name for more than 50 years.

Seemingly most known for its salad dressing, Mexican Village restaurant first opened as a small cafe at 120 Orange Avenue in the original Coronado Firehouse building in 1943 and was operated by numerous owners before eventually closing in 2009. During its tenure, Mexican Village became a landmark Coronado dining room that eventually seated hundreds, serving notable guests over the years including Liberace and Ronald Regan. The nearly 11,000 square-foot restaurant space went on to house several other concepts before most recently being the second branch of Spicy House, which closed earlier this year but still has a branch open in San Diego's Kearny Mesa district.

The owners of the the 1898-era building, Stephen Biafora and Robert Balfour, have teamed up with Nicky Rotten's founders, father-and-son Dominic & Nick Tomaselli, to open a new incarnation of Mexican Village. The Tomaselli's still own an outpost of Nicky Rotten's in El Cajon but are no longer associated in any way with the Coronado branch of the same name.

Famous Mexican Village Cocina y Cantina will open this week with a full bar, a colorful ambiance, and a menu from Head Chef Niurka Olea and Executive Chef Luciano Scagliarini, who previously helmed the kitchen at Coronado Cayes Yacht Club. Expect an eclectic array of traditional south of the border dishes complimented by Mexican spirits and cocktails.

Famous Mexican Village Cocina y Cantina is located at 126 Orange Avenue in Coronado and is expected to open by week's end.