BY MAGGIE BEAMGUARD
Insider Editor
There is never a bad time for tacos, the most popular dish on the menu at Casa Santa Ana in Seven Lakes. It may only have been 10 a.m., but the three dozen patrons who came out on Nov. 10 to help celebrate the reopening of owner Fernando Ventura’s restaurant at a new location scarfed them down.
If the people want tacos, Ventura will give them tacos. And with his new, larger kitchen, Seven Lakes doesn’t have to worry there might be a shortage of the meat and cheese filled pockets of delight.
The grand-reopening has been a long time coming for Ventura, who bought the restaurant at its former location in September 2013. At the new location — 168 Grant St. — Ventura features a larger dining area and kitchen, a fitting expansion after 10 years.
He hopes eventually to secure the permits to also provide an outdoor patio. “I want to make a nice place so people can spend a nice time, a good time in the restaurant,” Ventura said.
Ventura got his start in the restaurant business as a dishwasher. He learned the ropes over a period of 10 years, working his way into all aspects of food service, including cooking.
Owning his own restaurant was one of his dreams when he came to this country. When he was ready to strike out on his own, he secured loans and even sold his car to make his dream come true.
And now he has not one but two restaurants. This move within Seven Lakes comes after Ventura opened a second Santa Ana location in Pinehurst in January 2022, located in Olmsted Village at 211 Central Park Ave.
Ventura is grateful for those who support the restaurant, especially during the tough years of the pandemic. “There was a very good response from everybody in the community.”
That support may have something to do with the food. “We try to do the food like real, authentic Mexican,” he said. Some of the recipes come from his mother and grandmother.
And while he learned to cook on the job in those early years, he still got instruction long distance from home. “I would talk to my mom about the recipes and she would tell me how to do that and how to do this,” he said.
Ventura is excited to welcome everyone to the new location which he has been getting ready since purchasing it in March 2022.
At the grand re-opening, he shared a simple word of thanks. “I Thank God for all the blessings, and thank all of Seven Lakes and all the people around for supporting this business. Thank you everybody. I hope you like it.”
Operating hours remain the same, Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., Friday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., and Sunday from 11:30 to 9 p.m.
Contact Maggie Beamguard at maggie@thepilot.com.
