The American Dream is blossoming for immigrant couple Cesar Franco and Nubia Uribe, who are now the proud owners of a second Mexican restaurant.
Casa Amigos opened at 437 East Main St. on March 1, having achieved success with Los Agaves Grill in Athol. Uribe said each restaurant’s menu offers something slightly different than the other does.
“We try to do more options for the people, for the customers,” she told the Greenfield Recorder. “The customers are very nice, very supportive, you know? We appreciate that.”
Uribe said Casa Amigos specializes in birria, shredded meat marinated in various spices. She said the two restaurants offer similar dishes with different flavors. She also mentioned that Casa Amigos has different cuts of meat, such as ribeye. Casa Amigos also carries a house peppermint dressing, chipotle dressing and cilantro dressing.
The building has been a work in progress for nearly three years, as various necessary improvements came to light, and the restaurant has a new kitchen. Uribe and Franco hope at some point to build a patio and expand the parking lot, as the parking is what made 437 East Main St. so appealing in the first place.
Casa Amigos is now open at 437 East Main St. in Orange. PAUL FRANZ / Staff Photo 
Casa Amigos co-owner Nubia Uribe in the larger dining room of the Orange restaurant serving Mexican and south west cuisine. PAUL FRANZ / Staff Photo 
The bar area in the new Casa Amigos in Orange restaurant. PAUL FRANZ / Staff Photo
They have been in the United States for almost 20 years and lived in Florida before moving to Massachusetts. Uribe studied business management and laser skincare. Neither she nor Franco has a formal culinary education, but she said she learned how to cook from her grandmother, who reportedly made a mole with dozens of spices.
“I learned a lot from her,” Uribe said.
She mentioned they will slowly tweak the menu to suit customers’ tastes.
Casa Amigos has a liquor license and about 12 employees, including Uribe’s brother. The quaint space, which is adorned with fitting decor, includes a mural depicting a Mexican street that the owners sourced from Guadalajara in the Mexican state of Jalisco, where they have also ordered some tables.
The new restaurant is open seven days a week — 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on weekends. More information is available at casaamigosma.com or on the restaurant’s Facebook page. The phone number is 978-633-4031.
