Tequila Mexican Grill

I was honored this month to join Sisly and Gerardo Ramirez at their wonderful new restaurant, Tequila Mexican Grill and Bar. This spot is one of my favorite places to eat in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and is very popular with locals and tourists alike. I had the opportunity to sit down with Gerardo and Sisly, hear their story, and enjoy a few of their fantastic beef barbacoa tacos! Gerardo began working in the restaurant industry when he only 16. He started his career working for several local chain restaurants but owning his own restaurant had always been his dream. Together with his sister Sisly, they accomplished that by opening Tequila Mexican Bar and Grill in October 2020. It’s a full family affair and team effort with their parents Rocio and Gerardo also working at the restaurant nearly every day.

As readers know, 2020 was a difficult year to open a restaurant anywhere due to the government closures and restrictions in response to COVID-19. The previous owners operating at their establishment were forced to close their business, which weighed heavily on the minds of Gerardo and Sisly. Against these obstacles, it was a “hard and scary” decision for the Ramirez family to pick up the baton and pursue their dreams, but as Gerardo stated, “you might feel like it’s not worth it, but if you have faith, it is possible.”

Gerardo and Sisly attribute their success to the Ramirez family’s astounding work ethic and their passion for creating a place that embraces Mexican culture, that the community loves. Everyday Gerardo is at his restaurant for 12-13 hours, and the passion they have for their restaurant is revealed in everything from excellent food and the service to the Mexico-themed decor and trinkets on display. 

As a testament to Gerardo and Sisly’s hard work, their biggest challenge now is managing the growth of their restaurant. The Ramirez family would like a bigger parking lot to accommodate more guests. However, like so many businesses nationwide, they have a difficult time finding new employees since the U.S. workforce has still not recovered to pre-pandemic levels. As a result, they are holding off on the parking lot expansion until they know they will have enough staff to deliver the great service their guests have come to expect. 

Like other restaurants around the country, Gerardo and Sisly are also dealing with rising costs as food prices have spiked due to inflation, which has many popular ingredients costing around $10 more per case. Every increase in costs forces them choose between increasing prices for customers, delaying new investment into their business, or taking less money home for their families at the end of the day. 

Gerardo and Sisly’s most popular meal is their special beef barbacoa tacos. Their beef is slow cooked in seasonings for at least twelve hours, which makes the meat extremely tender. The tacos are made with two tortillas that have Mexican cheese in between and are served with a side of consommé sauce, which is made from the broth and bone the beef was slow cooked in. 

These tacos are absolutely delicious so next time you are in Lancaster, be sure to visit Tequila Mexican Grill and Bar and try some for yourself!