Latin favorites on menu at Cafe Primos

WASSAIC, N.Y. ­— Diners hankering for a little spice in their lives are in luck, thanks to the opening of Cafe Primos, the newest restaurant and the only one in the hamlet serving Mexican-American meals. Cafe Primos is on Route 22, just north of Sinpatch Road and adjacent to Cousin’s Mini Mart and gas station. It’s owned and managed by Tony and Vicki Robustelli — the pair who have owned and operated Cousins for more than 35 years.“A lot of our customers request something different besides pizza, deli and Chinese,” Vicki Robustelli said. “Now we’re getting a lot of comments that they’re glad there’s something different and unique.”The concept of a Mexican restaurant isn’t brand new. Last year El Jalapeno opened in the same location, but only stayed in business for about three months. Robustelli thinks Cafe Primos will fare much better, in part because she and her husband know the local clientele so well.“I wanted it to be very comfortable yet festive for everyone,” she said of the interior, which boasts rich and vibrant colors, decorative art and yet somehow remains a soothing environment in which customers can easily relax. The restaurant seats 30, and will soon serve beer and wine. For now there is a mix of Latin food, primarily Mexican, including fajitas, burritos and seafood dishes — some spicy and some not-too-hot. Many of the seafood items are grilled. In addition to traditional Mexican items such as burritos, nachos, tacos, fajitas and flautas, there are new tacos on old favorites such as a simple pork chop served with a mole verde sauce; and skewers of marinated beef, chicken and shrimp.“No matter what the dish all of the ingredients are fresh,” Robustelli said, describing the menu as upscale but at moderate prices, ranging from $5.99 for appetizers to $14.99 for a rib eye steak. There is a special vegetarian menu, and a substantial list of items just for kids. There are also seven types of quesadillas, with plain cheese priced at $5.99 and one served with shrimp for $9.99.Cafe Primos joins three other businesses in the Cousin’s Plaza: Cousin’s Mini Mart, Route 22 Computers and Oblong Valley Real Estate. In the spring there will be a new garden center where the defunct batting cages now stand. That will only add to the allure of the plaza, says its owner, which has just had a makeover of its own. The entire facade of the plaza was updated and modernized, bringing what was an aging structure into the year 2012, attracting customers to boot.“We get a lot of regulars, but we also get a lot of passersby,” Robustelli said. “The front helps. City people going by late at night see this and stop because it looks so attractive.”Cafe Primos is open Sunday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. For more information call 845-789-1616. The restaurant is at Cousin’s Plaza, 3997 Route 22.