Mexican restaurant opening on Gulfport bayou

GULFPORT -- A Mexican restaurant planning to capitalize on fresh ingredients and authenticity, Guanajuato, is opening on Cowan Road just south of the bridge over Bayou Bernard.

Co-owner and manager Ari Gonzalez said Guanajuato will feature homemade corn tortillas and tamales, and traditional Mexican dishes made from scratch. She said the dishes will be mildly spiced for the Southern palate, but spicy seafood dishes will be served.

For the grand opening, hopefully this weekend if everything comes together, they plan to offer two-for-one beer and fajitas.

Gonzalez had a stepfather in the restaurant business in California, but this is her first restaurant. Several years ago, Gonzalez, who lived in California, came to the Coast to visit her mom. At Juan Tequila's Mexican Grill & Cantina in Long Beach, she met a waiter, Alejandro Solis, and fell in love.

"It happened really quick," said Gonzalez, who has since moved to the Coast.

Solis is a co-owner of the restaurant, along with Oscar Rodriguez.

They will be opening Guanajuato in the building where Back Bay Seafood Restaurant was most recently located.

The restaurant is named for the Mexican town where Solis grew up. Gonzalez said the two intend to marry, when they can find the time.

This story was originally published October 13, 2015 at 4:55 PM with the headline "Mexican restaurant opening on Gulfport bayou ."