New Mexican-inspired restaurant opens in former Barrel & Boar
There’s a new spot for authentic tacos, cactus fries, palomas, and table-side chips & salsa.
Mariposa Mexican Cuisine opened last week on 5 S. 3rd St. in Newark, OH, in the building that housed the popular restaurant, Barrel & Boar. Alex and Stephanie Athan purchased Barrel & Boar 6 months ago and immediately got to work, creating a restaurant with a warm ambiance, full of murals, leather, and wood accents – an ode to Mexico’s rich culture.
“From the beginning, we wanted to make sure Mariposa was approachable, yet authentic,” explained Stephanie. “I asked myself and my team, ‘What kind of things can we source locally that gives our restaurant authenticity?’”
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Their menu features handmade tacos with fresh ingredients that cater to all diets – for example, pork belly for the meat eaters, mahi-mahi for the pescatarians, and even sweet potato and fried avocado tacos for the vegans. Along with 12 authentic tacos to choose from, they serve appetizers, desserts, and larger plates, like enchiladas, pollo pibil (roasted chicken thigh, chorizo and potato hash, ancho avocado dressing), and shrimp albondigas (shrimp meatballs, sour tomatillo broth, snapped angel hair pasta). And their cactus fries (yes, actual deep fried cactus!) might sound odd, but they’re a huge hit, and pair perfectly with their mezcal flight.
So far, the Newark community has been incredibly supportive, according to the Athans. After all, they have family ties to Newark, tracing all the way back to Alex’s great, great grandfather, who migrated to Newark from Greece in 1922. His grandfather opened his own restaurant in downtown Newark at 10 N. Park Pl., which was a family staple for 88 years, and the Athans eventually took over the space to create their first restaurant concept, 1922 On The Square.
Mariposa is now their second concept in downtown Newark, and they’re excited to hopefully expand in the future. The Athans both acknowledge that Downtown Newark is experiencing a revitalization, and they’re proud to be a part of it.
The word “Mariposa” means butterfly in Spanish, and the name of the restaurant is near and dear to Stephanie’s heart. She knew she wanted to incorporate Frida Kahlo somehow into their restaurant, and while sifting through Kahlo’s iconic artwork, Stephanie stumbled upon an image that showed painted butterflies, all in a line, and it evoked a saying that her father often told her – “line up the butterflies.” After seeing the image, “…it just made perfect sense,” said Stephanie. “Not only that, but just where we are with things, and what we want to do with this concept.”
Mariposa is open Monday through Thursday, 11am to 10pm, Friday and Saturday, 11am to 11pm, and Sunday, 11am to 9pm.
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