The Willow Glen Resident Photograph by George Sakkestad Suburban Cowboys: Jose Rodriguez and Javier Ponce straddle their saddles at the bar of the Sangria Restauraunt, which the pardners opened last month. Sangria restaurant infuses Glen with eclectic Mexican tradition New Willow Street bistro goes beyond burritos and tacos By Mary Spicuzza Stucco walls covered with bright yellow suns surrounded by splashes of turquoise, electric blue and earthy red make Willow Street's new Sangria Restaurant an explosion of color reminiscent of outdoor marketplaces in Mexico. The authentic decorations, lively salsa tunes, and spicy scents seem almost other-worldly. At the same time, the warm fire and cozy atmosphere make wandering inside feel much like coming home. Sangria co-owner Javier Ponce says this blend of influences is just what he had in mind when he and his partner, Jose Rodriguez, set out to design their new Willow Glen restaurant. "When I go to Mexico, I pick things from here and there and put it all together," Ponce says. "We don't want to copy anybody else. We both go to different towns to pick our favorite music, colors, tables, everything." The result is eclectically successful. Giant pottery next to colorful ceramic fruits and wall hangings come together to show the diversity of Mexican cultures. Ponce and Rodriguez hope to bring together a sampling of the best aspects of Mexico to create a restaurant that is unique yet traditional. The two possess insider knowledge of the lands south of the border. They met in Ponce's hometown of Guadalajara. Beyond the decor, they're using their knowledge of Mexican culture to create a menu that reflects a tradition of home-cooked foods. "The foods that we cook are home-made," Ponce says. "We use recipes from my mom, grandma, and great-grandmother. We don't make things from a can or package--they don't taste the same." That commitment to home-cooking yields thick sopes, moist tamales and crispy tortilla chips. Showing that Mexican cuisine extends beyond tacos, nachos and burritos, the owners are committed to providing exposure to traditional Mexican fare. Hence, there are huge doses of el pastor, and dinners piled with rice and beans, together with staple a la carte options. Ponce got his start in the restaurant business on Lincoln Avenue with Taqueria Tlaquepaque. He later sold it to his co-owner, and opened another restaurant in San Jose. But he missed Willow Glen and sold the second location as well. "I like Willow Glen--I wanted to stay here," Ponce says. Like his other restaurant locations, Ponce found the location for Sangria Restaurant while on the job working for the City of San Jose. Often driving around San Jose for the records department, he says, he keeps his eye open for locations that might work. By adopting family recipes passed down for generations, and putting their own families to work helping around the restaurant, the partners seem to have figured out a way to give Glenites and visitors something new. And of course, there's a full selection of sangrias in stock. [ Back to Contents Page | Willow Glen Resident Home Page | Archives ] This article appeared in the Willow Glen Resident, January 6, 1999. ©1998 Metro Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.