Mamitas Restaurante Latino, Newtown

It must be humbling for Chef Franciso Argueta to walk through Mamita's, with its elegant flourishes of brick accents, turquoise walls, and a toffee-hued wooden trim. Humbling, because it all started on his farm in El Salvador, where his mother prepared three meals for roughly 20 workers each day. Watching her work instilled in Argueta both a sense of leadership and a solid base in home-cooked Latin cuisine.

Mamita's is his newest venture in Newtown, designed to honor his mother's work. The menu features his reimagination of her traditional fare in everything from fajitas and carne asada to bright, citrus-infused ceviche. Complementing the dishes are seasonal specials and homemade drinks featuring fruit such as pear, papaya, and mango. What's more, the restaurant is BYO, so diners are encouraged to bring in their favorite brews or tequilas, yet discouraged from hiding a gin still in the coat closet. In addition to Mamita's, Chef Francisco also owns Francisco's on the River and Florentino's Italian Cuisine.