News : La Reyna opens: Mexican restaurant lovers praise the taste, smell

IMCA staff members enjoy cake at La Reyna; the Mexican restaurant opened today.

Deb Rundlett and others admire the skylight in the dining area of La Reyna.

The large rectangular skylight at La Reyna.

Chef Antonio Tapia cooks an entree on Wednesday, the first day of business at La Reyna.

Mexican restaurant lovers, including many who said they have been waiting for this day to arrive, filed into La Reyna on 4th Street on Wednesday, the first day the business opened in Vinton.

Carlos and Carmen Legaspi and their staff of two cooks and several waitresses were busy serving many customers early in the afternoon when they took time for a brief interview.

"The people have been very good to us," said Carlos. "We are very happy."

The customers were equally pleased.

Larry and Sandy Driscoll were among those who said they have been looking forward to the opening of the new restaurant.

"It was great," said Annette Merchant, as she sat at a table with Grace Rogers. "I love it. The salsa was very good."

"Their chunky salsa is the best," added Rogers.

"And I love the way it smells when you walk in the door," adds Merchant.

Deb Rundlett, who was waiting for a carry out order, stopped to look up at the source of light. She stood there, like many others, admiring the large rectangular skylight in the center of the dining area.

Others who were finishing their meals said the food was as good as they expected it would be.

Restaurant history

Immigrants from Mexico who chose Iowa because they believed it was the best place to live and raise a family, the Legaspis first went into business in Columbus Junction. They sold salsa and other items at Farmers Markets, and also had a restaurant there. They closed that restaurant when they opened La Reyna in Iowa City. They closed the Iowa City restaurant a few weeks ago to focus on the Vinton business.

Several months ago Heather Kingsbury, whose husband Matt was a high school principal at Columbus Junction before assuming that position for Vinton-Shellsburg, asked the Legaspis to consider opening a restaurant in Vinton.

She knew that building owner Rich Hainstock had been hoping to open a Mexican restaurant, and had been talking to some owners of other restaurants in Iowa.

"They are great people," said Kingsbury. "And their food is authentic Mexican. A lot of people in Columbus Junction wish they would come back.

With a large Latino population, Columbus Junction also has several Mexican restaurants.

Carmen Legaspi told Kingsbury that Vinton is "the opportunity we were looking for."

The Legaspis will continue to sell salsas and other items at Farmers Markets, where they also purchase fresh produce for their restaurants.

What sets La Reyna apart, says Carlos, is that everything is fresh.

"We don't use canned or frozen ingredients," he said. "Only fresh."

Carmen said La Reyna is a home-style restaurant; customer favorites include their enchiladas, she says.

The couple's salsas and guacamole are also very popular in every city where they have offered it.

" La Reyna has the best pico de gallo and guacamole in Iowa City. Hands down," wrote customer Kym Wroble on the La Reyna Facebook wall.

The dine-in part of the business faces 4th Street, with the entry just a couple doors down from the Vinton Palace. The carry-out business will operate from the former Lori's entrance on A Avenue.