While growing up inAzua, a municipality in the Dominican Republic,Bernardo Ramirez helped his fisherman father sell seafood.
This job earned him a fitting nickname: El Pulpo.
In Spanish, it means octopus.
"Back in my hometown, if you go and ask for my real name, most of the people won't know who you're talking about," Ramirez said. "But if you say El Pulpo, they'll know who you're talking about."
Ramirez came to the United States in 1995 when he was about 25. He carried El Pulpo with him, using the nickname as inspiration for his new restaurant on Upper Front Street in Binghamton.
El Pulpo Mexican Restaurant & Grillopened in June in a building that previously housed office space and, prior to that, a McDonald's.
Ramirez comes from about 15 years in the restaurant business, most recently atLos Tapatios. He also co-owned the now-closedLos Tapatios location in Owego.Butduring his career, he always dreamed of owning a restaurant of his own.
"I always dreamed about having my own place, and I always dream big, so I wanted to do something big," Ramirez said.
He opened El Pulpo along with his wife, Beth Duhr-Ramirez. Originally from Iowa, Duhr-Ramirez came to Binghamton to sing with Tri-Cities Opera's young artist program and earn her master's degree at Binghamton University.In addition to co-owning El Pulpo, she is also an opera singer and music teacher at McNeill Music in Vestal, the Endicott Performing Arts Center (EPAC), Tabernacle United MethodistChurch in Binghamton, and Positive Life Force in Edwell.
The couple residein Port Dickinson.
"One of the things we noticed is that this section of town didn't really have much for dining options aside from chains," Duhr-Ramirez said.
After the McDonald's closed, the building was converted into office space. The couple began renting the space in January,and spent about six months tearing down the offices and bringing the building up to code.
"We thought it would be less work than it was," Duhr-Ramirez said. "(We thought)it was a restaurant before, so it would be easy. But no."
The restaurant'sthree walls of dome-like windows and remaining drive-thru window (not in use) are still reminiscent of a McDonald's.
But El Pulpo has made the building its own. The signature octopus can be found decorating walls and merchandise for sale in the restaurant.
Other atmospheric elements give it a distinctly Mexican feel: a garland of chiles, a sombrero and Latin music coming through the speakers.
Brightly colored blue, green and yellowwalls complement natural light that floods the building during the daytime.
Despite the restaurant name and decor, octopus was originally missing from the menu. Customers came in expecting it, though, so Ramirez added it.
"You know, it's not a common fare around here," Duhr-Ramirez said."Some people have been tentative about trying it, but anyone who has gotten it has been really happy they did."
The last week in November featured octopus specials: an octopus burrito and octopus tacos.
The $17.99 octopus burrito is stuffed with stewed octopus, served with a side of rice, beans, lettuce, avocado, pico de gallo, jalapeño and lime. Also $17.99, the tacos are soft shell, served with rice, beans, red hot sauce, pico de gallo and avocado.
Seafood is a specialty for Ramirez. Hisseafood soup, called Siete Mares, beganas a special. But it became a permanent item on the menu after it was frequently requested by customers.
Siete Mares incorporates seven kinds of seafood, including octopus.
"The people who are getting that are surprised that 'I'm getting octopus and I like it,'" Duhr-Ramirez said.
Another popular item is the Burrito Pulpo. The $12.99 burrito is filled withmarinated pulled pork, and covered in cheese and pico de gallo.
Despite the name, the burrito does not contain octopus. It's just referring to the restaurant's name.
"That's been a big hit," Duhr-Ramirezsaid.
La Parillada, a $27.99grilled dinner for two, is another hit on the menu. The dinner is a combination of grilled chicken, steak, shrimp and chorizo, laid upon a bed of sizzling vegetables. It's served with an avocado salad, pico de gallo, sour cream, jalapeños, rice, beans and tortillas.
For bigger parties, the $44.99Family Deal can be shared between four or more people. It's likeLa Parillada, just bigger.
"The deal is very, very good," Ramirez said of La Parillada.
The restaurant's motto is "Cooking With Your Health in Mind." So, Ramirez created alternative recipes with non-GMO oils and without preservatives. The menu also offers gluten-free and vegan options.
Six months ago, when El Pulpo opened, Ramirez and Duhr-Ramirez feared it would not have a positive reception. Two other Mexican restaurants— Dos Rios Cantina in downtown Binghamton, and Hacienda Mexican Restaurant on the South Side of Binghamton— opened within two weeks of El Pulpo opening.
"You never know, going into business, what will happen," Duhr-Ramirez said.
But the couple said the reception has been positive, despite the competition.
"There's obviously enough interest and success for everybody," Duhr-Ramirez said.
In November, the restaurant started delivering its fare through BingBite, an online food delivery service.
"That's been exceptionally successful so far, so we hope that continues to grow," Duhr-Ramirez said.
El Pulpo is also available for large parties and hopes to offer catering in the future.
"We (want)people to feel like family," Ramirez said.
"Take a Bite" is a recurring series covering local eateries, unique dishesand what's new in the local food scene.Is there a culinary hot spot we need to visit or a stand-out dish we have yetto try? Email Maggie Gilroy atmgilroy@gannett.comor call 607-348-5142.
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