Francisco's Mexican Cantina in Manuka has announced that it will close at the end of this week – but long time fans shouldn't worry, it will be back.
Owner Dave Nelson says he was closing the restaurant because the lease on its Manuka premises was ending. He's looking to move the restaurant to a new spot but hasn't found the perfect location yet so he's going to take a break and recharge after 10 years of nonstop restaurant work.
Nelson and his wife Tina Cotta opened Francisco's in the Manuka Village arcade in 2005, serving up chimichangas and burritos at a time when there wasn't any sort of Mexican food in the capital. Nelson says he didn't realise how many fans the restaurant had until they announced the closure.
"We've got a lot of bookings – they're just coming out of everywhere. So we're going out with a bit of a bang," he says.
"I can assure everybody that food wise, I'm happy with it, I'm totally good with that. I just want to find a [new] place where I stand there and go, 'Yep, this is it.'"
Head down to Francisco's this week to say farewell for now – doors close Saturday, February 21. And watch this space.
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