News : Columbus Junction customer recommended Vinton as site for new Mexican restaurant

Carmen and Carlos Legaspi stand inside of the future La Reyna Mexican restaurant in Vinton.

"What is the name of your business?"

Carlos and Carmen Legaspi looked at each other blankly when a bookkeeper asked for an official name to put on a document.

"We had not realized we would need a name," recalls Carmen with a laugh, as she stands inside of the building that will soon be the home of the La Reyna Mexican restaurant on 4th Street in Vinton.

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. That business will remain open when the Legaspis expand La Reyna into Vinton. They hope to open around April 1.

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.

"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 couple then called Rich Hainstock, who had made several attempts to find a Mexican restaurant owner willing to consider moving into the old Lori's Cafe building.

On most Tuesdays, the Legaspis come to Vinton, where they meet with Hainstock to review the progress on the building. The dining room area is complete, and filled with enough tables and booths to accommodate 70 patrons.

The Legaspis 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 will face 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.