A Mexican Jewel at the Heart of Hartford

Mexican cuisine is a symbol of pride for all of its people. Declared one of the most exquisite foods in the world, it fills with pride to all Hispanics for its cultural value across borders. Thus, a family from Mexico, led by Mrs. Minerva Negreros and the young couple Enrique Negreros and Angélica García, undertook a trip from their native Puebla to the heart of Hartford - Connecticut, crossing borders with their millenary flavors.

“Our story begins when my mother started working here 20 years ago with the former owners, back then she was the chef. Later, she bought the restaurant. We are a family business. My mother continues to be the chef, Angelica, my wife is the Administrator and I am the business operational supervisor”

How did “El Nuevo Sarape” start?

It was a very difficult time, because we had no experience. To manage a restaurant you need many things. The previous owners had some personal disagreements, and they decided to sell the restaurant unexpectedly. That was about 6 years ago. They chose my mother because they knew her, and they knew her taste and love for Mexican cuisine. With a lot of effort, my mother saved the money and bought the business. At first, everything was difficult. It was a long road.

How has the clientele responded to “El Nuevo Sarape”?

In the beginning, it was very difficult because people knew the previous owners. They thought the food taste would change. There was a lot of controversy about our service, and that we won’t be able to succeed in our business.

We worked hard and built our business little by little. It was difficult some customers never came back because we were the new owners, and although things were not good at the beginning we continued moving on.

Now we have a different outlook and an original menu. People have come back and told us that our food is very tasty. They say there’s happiness, good service, and affordable prices.

“Good feedback motivates us to continue. It makes us see that we are doing things right and that our efforts are working”.

What is Minerva’s secret for Mexican cuisine?

Ms. Minerva tells us that she learned to cook from a very young age. She always tells us stories of her youth back in Mexico.

How do you feel about bringing the Mexican cuisine to Hartford?

We are proud to show our culture and very happy that the public likes the flavors of Puebla.

What is the best-selling dish in “El Nuevo Sarape”?

The most requested is the Molcajete, and the Roasted Meat. Burritos are popular as well.

You have a painting of the Virgin of Guadalupe here. As immigrants, how important has it been to maintain your faith?

Faith comes first, without faith everything else won’t matter.

Why is your menu so affordable?

We have the same mentality as other people. If we go to a restaurant and see that the prices are too expensive, we don’t want to go there often.  We think about the community. We want them to come here to enjoy our dishes and have a good time with us. We want them to have accessible prices, and to be able to have quality and quantity of food. That is very important.

What does it mean for “El Nuevo Sarape” to be part of the Hartford community?

We love the city of Hartford, although there is crime; especially here on Broad Street. However, our neighbors are very friendly, and they help each other. That's why we like this city, because of our community.

What could you say to immigrants that want to start a business?

Think that the best thing for a person is not to enrich others. Rather, work for yourself to build something for your family.

How does it feel to be Mexican and to bring your culture to Hartford?

Being Mexican is a blessing and pride. Being in Hartford is one of the best things that has happened to us.

In your opinion, what is the secret of success?

It is to take risks and work hard for your goals! That is the most important. If you do not risk, you will never know if you were good enough.

What's coming up for “El Nuevo Sarape”?

You will see an elegant and fun change in our restaurant so that when people come, they feel at home. We want them to feel like they are in Mexico as soon as they walk through the door. And, when they leave they will see the difference.

We invite all Hartford to taste our food. Tell us what you think. We like to hear your comments to improve our service every day, that's important. Come with your whole family, you will love it.

 Angelica- We want to invite everyone in Connecticut and surrounding areas to visit us. Try our dishes, and experience what it is to be at home. For our Mexican compatriots, we want to remind you what our culture is, and our cuisine. 

“I want to thank the community. If it wasn’t for them, we wouldn't be where we are today. But, above all, thank you to our family for their support. We are a family business, we have worked hard and we are united”.

How do you see the future of El Nuevo Sarape?

I see a beautiful future. We will make renovations, and we will add more original dishes to our menu. We will also expand to open a Lounge-Bar so that people can come to enjoy Happy Hour.

El Nuevo Sarape is located at 931 Broad Street in Hartford - CT, and it has made a difference for over 20 years in the community throughout Connecticut.

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Did you know that Mexican food was declared cultural heritage of humanity since 2010?

Mexican food is a feast of flavors, colors, and traditions. The new owners of “El Nuevo Sarape”, Ms. Minerva, Enrique, and Angelica, make Mexican culture each day in the beautiful city of Hartford.

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