Saludos to all DT members,

I would like to do a little brain picking if you don’t mind, and this would be for the members who live and visit the Dominican Republic.
At the present time I am considering opening up a TexMex Restaurant and Cantina somewhere in the DR.
My question is what city or town would be most appropriate for this type of venture.
Now please keep in mind that I am not targeting the Dominican Market, I would like to be in a place where there are lots of gringos and tourist from Europe.

Thanks, Tex

Las Terrenas definitely needs a Tex Mex restaurant. There are many Gringos year round.

S.

well, TexMex, ABC tells that there are many gringos all year round in Las Terrenas. my suggestion is that you visit the area, check the numbers yourself, and look at the demographics. Las Terrenas residents tend to be Euros, in the main. i am not sure if their food preferences extend to Tex Mex. your best bet would be Santiago. it is a big city, and has a lot of people who are cosmopolitan enough to appreciate Tex Mex. my belief is that little towns like Las Terrenas cannot support a restaurant, basically because there are already a million restaurants fighting for a small pool of customers.

Do not forget the new roads make LT good for week-end trips by gringos from the capital. Certainly there is a lively Gringo bar here owned by a Luxembourg citizen - why not a Gringo Tex -Mex.
I don't know how many gringos there are in Santiago - my impression is that it is gringo dead judging by reviews in trip advisor.
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Tourism-g635962-Santiago_Dominican_Republic-Vacations.html
LT is a major centre of tourism development in DR.
So we have more stupidity from Dread!
Punta Cana, Santo Domingo, JD, LT and maybe downmarket Boca Chica are possible.
S.

Here is good example of overseas Tex Mex!
http://www.texasembassy.com/foods.html
S.

It depends on what is your clientele.

If you are looking for tourists then you have to decide what is the price range. If you are going upscale stay away from the main tourist zones as they are marketed to budget travelers and many resorts don't encourage their customers from leaving the grounds.

Las Terrenas would be a possibility if you are looking to open a low cost dinner type place. The tourists there tend to be lower end Euros who don't come to spend. Also if your restaurant is a success expect a half dozen others to open up within weeks.

If you are looking for "Upscale" & Tourist clientele then your only place is Santo Domingo. If you just want Upscale then you can add Santiago in the mix.

you are an ass, ABC. Santiago may not be flooded with gringo tourists, but there is a large expat community living there. they associate with the upper echelons of Santiago society, who can buy and sell you and your Eurotrash grifters in Las Terrenas. i would rather set up business in a town populated by the likes of the Abreu families, the Leon Jimenez guys, and all the big money that rolls into town from Jarabacoa, than hope to get guys travlling hours from the capital to my restaurant. you have no clue, but what else is new?

Thank you guys for your opinions. I will check some of the towns out next week.

I am not looking for the upscale market nor do I want to be a soup kitchen, but I want to set up a real nice place with a Mexican atmosphere and serve up some authentic TexMex dishes such as these.

[B]Breakfast Dishes [/B]

Steak and Eggs
Two Eggs [any style] topped with Ranchero Sauce, Charbroiled Ribeye, Refried Beans and Tortillas.

Chilaquiles Famosos
Crisp Corn Tortilla Strips scrambled with Eggs, topped with Ranchero Sauce and age melted Cheddar Cheese. Served with Refried Beans and Tortillas. Add your choice of:
Carne de Res
Beef Tips sauteed in Tomatoes and Peppers
or
Carne De Puerco en Chile Cascabel
Pork Tips in a rich Red Sauce.

Huevos a la Mexicana
Fresh Eggs scrambled with Tomatoes, Green Peppers and Onions. Served with Refried Beans, Tortillas and your choice of Bacon, Ham, Smokets, Pork Chop or Pork Patties.

TexMex Special Breakfast
Two large Eggs [any style], Refried Beans and Tortillas add your choice of:
Carne de Res Guisada
Beef Tips sauteed in Tomatoes and Peppers
or
Carne De Puerco en Chile Cascabel
Pork Tips in a rich Red Sauce

[B]TexMex Lunch and Dinner[/B]

Enchiladas Verdes de Pollo
2 Chicken Enchiladas topped with Green Tomatillo Sauce, Monterrey Jack Cheese and Sour Cream. Served with Guacamole, Spanish Rice and Refried Beans.

Beef Enchilada Dinner
2 Beef Enchiladas topped with Chili Meat Gravy and Cheddar Cheese. Served with Spanish Rice and Refried Beans.

Enchilada Dinner
2 Cheese Enchiladas topped with Chili Meat Gravy and Cheddar Cheese. Served with Spanish Rice and Refried Beans.

Cheese Enchiladas
3 Cheese Enchiladas topped with Chili Meat Gravy and Cheddar Cheese.
Caldos Caseros
Homemade Vegetable soups with Beef or Chicken

Del Mercado
Chicken Tortilla Soup

Chalupa Compuesta
A Bean and Cheese Chalupa topped with Guacamole. Served with a Cheese Enchilada and Spanish Rice.

Ladies Special
Cheese Enchilada, Crispy Chicken Taco and Spanish Rice

Pollo al Carbon
Grilled Chicken [1/4], served with Salad, Spanish Rice and Frijoles a la Charra and Salad.

Pollo al Carbon con Enchilada
Grilled Chicken [1/4], served with Spanish Rice and a Cheese Enchilada topped with Ranchero Sauce

Chile Relleno
Served with Spanish Rice and Refried Beans.

Enchiladas Rancheras de Queso
Served with Spanish Rice and Refried Beans.

Beef Enchiladas Lunch
Served with Spanish Rice and Refried Beans.

[B]AND best of ALL real Margaritas[/B]… That will knock your socks off

TexMex, my best advice to you is to realise that you are not going to keep a restaurant alive here if you depend on gringo traffic. the off season will kill you. besides, you want repeat customers, and gringo will eat at your place today, and some other place tomorrow. you need to have a dish that will sell for somewhere between 100-120 pesos, at midday. that is the time when Dominicans eat the heavier meal. in the evening, you can concentrate on the quesadillas and the other lighter stuff. forget the breakfast....not enough traffic. you cannot compete with Belkis who is selling salami and fried cheese for 40 peso. that kind of price point is unworkable when you have serious overhead, like rent. most of all, take any advice from ABC on this subject with a grain of salt, as he seems to live in a galaxy far , far , away.

Dread has not been in LT recently and seen all the new activity.
Several places do well for light breafasts. Depends on location.
Anyhow Tex wll make his own judgements. A Cuban American has opened and is doing very well.
Still exciting opportunities!
Don't listen to dread - he knows little or nothing!
Many gringo restaurants do well in DR and LT too.
S.