QUEENS — A new restaurant serving Mexican cuisine with an Italian twist has just opened in downtown Jamaica, expanding dining options in the area dominated by fast-food chains.
Don Nico’s, at 90-14 161st St., between Jamaica and 90th avenues, is currently soft open for business with a limited menu which includes burritos, tacos, tortas, tamales and fajita platters as well as wraps and salads.
The owner, Nicola Maurello, said he expects the grand opening to take place in a couple of weeks.
Maurello, who ran Pasticcio, an Italian restaurant in Murray Hill, for about 30 years, currently owns Don Nico's food kiosk in downtown Brooklyn.
The full menu at the new restaurant, he said, will also include several Italian dishes, such as bruschetta, as well as items like mac and cheese which will be served with spicy pesto.
The menu, he added, will be “based on my career and the stuff that I’ve done over the years... I have an extensive experience with Italian, Spanish and Mexican food."
This week, the restaurant will remain open from noon to 5 p.m., but hours may be extended beginning next week, Maurello said.
Eventually, the restaurant will serve breakfast, lunch and dinner and will feature a wine and sangria bar.
Maurello said he picked Jamaica for his new restaurant because “it’s the land of opportunity.”
“Jamaica is going to be booming in two to three years,” he said. “It just has to embrace young entrepreneurs who want to open the business here.”
