Ricardo Cortes Jr.
said the restaurant business has been in his blood since he came to the United States 11 years ago.
He came to the states when he was 15 and went to work in his father’s restaurant.
The 26-year-old Cortes opened his own restaurant, Verde Limon Mexican Grill, on Sept. 27 in Bella Vista. It’s the third bearing that name in Arkansas. His father owns the other two, which are located in West Helena and Cabot, respectively.
“They were here and I got involved starting out working as a dishwasher,” Cortes said.
“But I wanted to own my own business definitely.”
The restaurant business has definitely been a family affair.
Cortes said he learned from his parents, who started working in the food business in the casinos in Lake Tahoe, Nev.
One of his uncles then decided to open a restaurant and his father was the general manager.
His father then opened his own restaurant, the first Verde Limon, in West Helena. The younger Cortes’ wife, Isabel, also works in the Bella Vista restaurant.
Cortes said he wanted to offer something different for the people of Northwest Arkansas. Verde Limon stays true to its name with the green walls and chairs.
He also wanted to offer authentic Tex-Mex food.
Such items as the chimichanga and fajitas are popular, Cortes said.
Customers also enjoy the poblanos, a chile pepper stuffed with cheese and onions, then battered and deep fried and topped with ranchero sauce.
Verde Limon offers several versions of fajitas with beef, chicken or shrimp. Also available is a dish called Fajitas Hawaianas with ham and pineapple. Some lunch specials cost less than $4 and eight different lunch specials are less than $5.
Verde Limon also has live music on Thursday and Friday nights.
Whats Up, Pages 23 on 06/29/2012