Viejo's... Where Tacos Rule
Two brothers with one dream mean that we get to eat, drink, and be merry at Viejo’s Tacos y Tequila in downtown Bastrop. Danny and Joe Oviedo had both been in the restaurant industry for years, but they finally got the opportunity to do it themselves with Viejo’s. Named to honor their beloved grandfather, Viejo’s has quickly become a staple in downtown since it opened on July 4th, 2013.
The Oviedo brothers have done it all – from bussing tables, to serving, to bar tending, and finally managing. Throughout it all, one thing has remained constant. Providing excellent service. Service is definitely a focus at Viejo’s. “We want to have the best service in town,” says Danny. “Every day is a training opportunity for us and our staff.” But the amazing service isn’t the only thing you’ll notice. The Oviedo brothers pride themselves on using fresh ingredients to create exciting flavors in both their food and their hand-crafted cocktails. Before coming to Bastrop, the brothers picked up lots of ideas for flavor combinations in Del Rio and San Antonio in their other restaurant jobs. The Viejo’s menu is mainly Interior Mexican cuisine with a focus on tacos. There are also some more “Americanized” options, as well as some fried items. “We wanted to throw some ‘funky’ options in there too,” said Danny.
But you haven’t really experienced Viejo’s until you’ve had one of their cocktails. You won’t find mixes here. It’s all done from scratch with fresh juices and fruits all muddled into the drink. Their signature drink is their fresh lime margarita. “It’s really the foundation for all of our drinks,” Joe said. Another popular drink is a tequila martini with fresh jalapenos muddled in. The Oviedo brothers are all business at the restaurant, but they also know how to cut loose a little. They built the Viejo’s drink menu at home one night. “We just bought a bunch of liquor and started experimenting,” says Danny. “Our senses got better as the night went on.” Viejo’s also features live music on the patio Thursday through Saturday nights. Music ranges from acoustic, to a live band, and even an open mic night. If you’re lucky, you might even catch Danny strumming a song or two if things slow down in the restaurant. And the patio is always available for al fresco dining. There are misters in the summer, and heaters and a canopy for these chilly winter nights.
Photo courtesy of Viejo's Taco y Tequila.
We have the brothers’ uncle to thank for Viejo’s opening in Bastrop. “We wanted a small community in the Austin area,” Joe said. Their uncle, who owns a Dodge dealership in La Grange, suggested they check out Bastrop. “First we looked at the commercial areas,” said Danny. “But we fell in love with downtown and the restaurant venue.” “We always thought it was a nice town,” Joe says. “We moved here in October of 2012. It’s a family affair. Our mom owns Veranda next door.”
“Our philosophy is ‘Customers First’ and providing excellent service,” said Danny. “We want to bring people back.”
The Oviedo brothers are building on their successful restaurant enterprise by adding catering for small- to mid-sized events. “We’ll do small parties, weddings, office parties, you name it,” said Joe. “We have a large grill on a trailer we can set up outside the venue, so our catering menu features our grilled items that we make on-site.” Viejo’s catering is available now and there are openings for holiday events. Both brothers care deeply about Viejo’s. “I love that I can take everything I’ve learned from my past experiences and be able to show people our vision,” said Joe. “I’ve been given creative license to create our own food and drink menu, and I’m watching it grow,” Danny says. “I love watching people’s positive reactions to the experience.”
Viejo’s Tacos y Tequila is located at 811 Main Street in downtown Bastrop. They are open Monday from 5-11pm, Tuesday through Thursday from 11am to 11pm, and Friday and Saturday from 11am to 12 midnight. Sunday brunch is coming soon. Find them online in the following places: Website: http://www.viejosbastrop.com/ Phone: 512-988-7554 Email: info@viejosbastrop.com Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ViejosBastrop Instagram: http://instagram.com/viejostyt Twitter: http://twitter.com/viejosbastrop Story and photos by Sarah T. Page Consulting, LLC (unless otherwise noted)
