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20 | February 13, 2020 | the mokena messenger dining out mokenamessengerdaily.com The Dish Taco Patio in Lockport continues to win hearts with unique family recipes Abhinanda Datta Contributing Editor A strong focus on building relationships within the community is what drives this eatery serving Mexican fare in Lockport. According to Taco Patio co-owner and restaurant manager Nasia Katris, unlike a franchise, “Our priority isn’t to make money.” “Growing up in the restaurant business, I know from personal experience that a family-owned business has an advantage, because you’re going to have the family there,” she said. “If there’s a personal touch, they’re more in touch with the community or the needs of people. That’s the priority with us.” The original Bellwood location was opened almost 40 years ago by Katris’ father, Jim, and 10 years ago, she launched the one in Lockport along with her husband an coowner Christos Giannakopoulos. “For such a small community, Lockport has really opened up and supported us,” Katris said. “We love to have regulars all the time. It’s a hardworking community that is kind and appreciative of our services. And because we are here all the time, we get to know everybody and get to see what they’re like.” Whether you want to dine in with your family or grab a quick bite on the way to work, Taco Patio caters to all kinds of dining needs. One item that is quite popular among those opting for the drivethru service is the lightly sweetened horchata, available in two sizes ($2.45- $2.75). Made entirely from scratch, this recipe has been in Katris’ family for over 40 years and is a concoction featuring Jicaro seeds ground with rice and ground cocoa, cinnamon, nutmeg and vanilla. “We need to cook the cinnamon all day; it’s a huge process,” she said. “I keep telling my husband that we’re going to somehow make bigger batches. We can’t keep up. People will come to the drive-thru for four or five horchatas at a time. It’s crazy.” The loaded cheese fries ($5.89) — potatoes fried and salted, topped with seasoned meat of the customer’s choice, grilled onion, sour cream and hot peppers — are another sought-after option. Katris said since the distribution of Mexican products in the market was not as great a few decades ago, she saw her family prepare their own beans, taco shells and sauces in the kitchen. “You couldn’t go and buy ready-made products like so many Mexican restaurants do these days,” she said. “So that’s why everything was made from scratch, and we still do that. We come two hours early in the morning and we stay late at night. We refuse to buy anything.” For those looking to get a heartier meal, the enchilada dinner ($9.99) comes with three enchiladas with either chicken, beef or cheese, along with rice, tortilla chips and fresh guacamole. There also is the taco salad ($7.99) — a combination of protein, beans, lettuce, tomato, green onion and black Taco Patio 1022 E. 9th St. in Lockport Hours • 10 a.m.-midnight Monday-Thursday and Sunday • 10 a.m.-2 a.m. Friday-Saturday For more information ... Phone: (815) 838- 8226 Web: tacopatio.com Pictured is the No Name ($4.99) dessert — a plate of Mexican doughnuts with powdered sugar, cinnamon and caramel drizzle — at Taco Patio in Lockport. Photos by Thomas Czaja/22nd Century Media The nacho supreme ($7.49) comes with meat, cheese, beans, tomato and olives, topped with sour cream and guacamole. olives served in a crispy flour shell with a dollop of sour cream. Guests have the option of adding guacamole for another $1.10. For Katris, cooking has become a labor of love. “Working in a restaurant, you see what it should be like, what it could be like and what it is like in other places,” she said. “We do have a lot of families that come here. And I personally would not be able to serve something that I could not serve to my own family. Those who eat here know it will be good, because it is freshly made right away.” Some items on the menu take longer to prepare, such as the vegetarian option with stuffed peppers. The stuffed pepper burrito ($7.75) and the stuffed pepper taco ($3.10) come with poblano peppers prepared over three days. They have to be skinned and fried, stuffed with a special five-cheese blend and breaded. While most popular desserts have appetizing names, Taco Patio’s only item with no name has been winning hearts for years. “A couple of years ago, we were testing a new dessert one night when a customer wanted to try it out,” Katris said. “He liked it so much that he wanted to order more, even before we could name it officially. So, we went with No Name for this phenomenal dessert.” The No Name ($4.99) is a plate filled with fried dough and served with cinnamon, powdered sugar and a drizzle of Mexican caramel. Coming from an immigrant family, Katris said food was very important as “it was a time to be happy, enjoy yourself, forget about what was going on.” Armed with strong values and even stronger familial bonds, she has ensured that Taco Patio is unique in its dedication to the quality of the food and personal service. “We are an upscale fast food place, and I hope Lockport will continue to support us, so that we can provide them with a great experience,” Katris said.
mokenamessengerdaily.com puzzles the mokena messenger | February 13, 2020 | 21 crosstown CROSSWORD & Sudoku The crosstowns: Frankfort, Homer Glen, Lockport, Mokena, New Lenox, Orland Park, Tinley Park Crossword by Myles Mellor and Cindy LaFleur Across 1. Do away with 6. Sitar music piece 10. Mariner in a classic literary tale 14. Use a cell 15. Absolve 17. Terra ___ (pottery) 18. Mokena mayor, Frank 19. Equips militarily 21. Rhythmic singing 22. Lord’s Prayer pronoun 23. Shelley’s “___ Skylark” 25. Coin of the realm 29. Early course 30. Military rank, abbr. 33. Rice dish 34. With insight and wisdom 36. Suspect eliminator 37. Neb. neighbor 38. Infection type 39. One who loves punishment 41. Give the slip to 42. Trial lawyer’s advice 43. Fire power 44. Long, loose overcoat 45. Registered names: Abbr. 46. Singer Yoko 47. Kenya inhabitant 51. Couldn’t be found 57. Minute examinations 59. Prefix with -clast 60. Carriage 61. Instant 62. Floral support 63. PGA part 64. Cries out Down 1. Watchdog org.? 2. Delicious bar 3. Gp. marching around campus 4. “Render __ Caesar . . .” 5. Mokena gives awards for this to homeowners 6. Cook, as beans 7. Spindle 8. Falls apart 9. “Wheel of Fortune” request 10. Curve outward and then downward 11. Response to a joke 12. Egyptian solar deity 13. Muppet 16. Rocket scientist’s calculation 20. Article in constant use 24. Arles assent 25. Sends junk e-mails 26. Rice 27. Beethoven dedicatee 28. Mexican resort 29. Final word 30. Walk around proudly 31. Open space in a forest 32. Mary ___ Moore 34. They are on SI covers 35. Pop musician Lofgren 40. Express thoughtful hesitation 44. One in Madrid 46. Mary-Kate or Ashley, e.g. 47. Gullets 48. Doctor’s abbreviation 49. Dressing ingredient 50. Bit 52. Puck catchers 53. Square measure 54. “...double __ and trouble” 55. Abbr. at the bottom of a business letter 56. Lady deer 58. Start of an apology How to play Sudoku Each Sudoku puzzle consists of a 9x9 grid that has been subdivided into nine smaller grids of 3x3 squares. To solve the puzzle, each row, column and box must contain each of the numbers 1-9. LEVEL: Medium Crossword by Myles Mellor and Susan Flanagan answers MOKENA The Alley Grill and Tap House (18700 S. Old LaGrange Road, Mokena; (708) 478-3610) ■9 ■ p.m. Tuesdays: Karaoke Fox’s Restaurant and Pub (11247 W. 187th St., Mokena; (708) 478- 8888) ■6 ■ p.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays: Performance by Jerry Eadie NEW LENOX Little Joe’s Restaurant (1300 N. Cedar Road, New Lenox; (815) 463- 1099) ■5-8 ■ p.m. Tuesdays: Piano Styles by Joe HOMER GLEN Front Row (14903 S. Bell Road, Homer Glen; (708) 645- 7000) ■7 ■ p.m. Wednesdays: Trivia FRANKFORT Pete Mitchell’s Bar & Grill (21000 Frankfort Square Road, Frankfort; (815) 464-8100) ■6-8 ■ p.m. Wednesdays: Free N’ Fun Bar Game. Free to play. LOCKPORT Port Noir (900 S. State St., Lockport; (815) 834-9463) ■4-7 ■ p.m. Monday- Friday: Happy Hour Strike N Spare II (811 Northern Drive, Lockport; (708) 301- 1477) ■9:30 ■ p.m.-12:30 a.m. Mondays: Quartermania ORLAND PARK Traverso’s Restaurant (15601 S. Harlem Ave., Orland Park; (708) 532- 2220) ■8 ■ p.m. Wednesdays and Saturdays: Karaoke To place an event in The Scene, email b.conboy@ 22ndcenturymedia.com.
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