Naming restaurants after his sons is just something Victor Nuñez Sr. does. His new restaurant in Cortez is named after 16-year-old son Beny.
Benys restaurant was Vics Diner in Dolores for 10 years. That eatery was named after 21-year-old son Victor.
Now, Victor Nuñez Jr. is managing Benys in Cortez.
Victor Jr. moved to Cortez earlier in the year with his wife and baby to help his dad open the restaurant. So far, he said, he likes the restaurant business and he seats guests as well as takes their orders at times.
The Nuñezes decided to relocate to 640 S. Broadway (where the Anasazi restaurant used to be) because of the larger population in Cortez.
The menu is a little different, too, than in Dolores. We have more food options, Victor Jr. said.
Benys offers breakfast, lunch and dinner, and the menu contains a variety of choices with Mexican food being the restaurants specialty.
Breakfast includes such fares as machaca with shredded beef, onions, tomatoes, and bell pepper scrambled with eggs; homemade chorizo, coarsely chopped pork sausage, with eggs; huevos a caballo, eggs on top of two cheese enchiladas; and of course, huevos rancheros, a Southwest staple of eggs topped off with chile verde over a tortilla.
More common breakfast items omelettes, pancakes, French toast, country gravy, and breakfast burritos are included too.
For lunch, welcome to the Taco World menu with beef, chicken, fish, carne asada, and carnitas in crispy or soft shells. Hamburgers, salads, sandwiches and burritos also are available.
Mexican combination dinners, served with rice, beans and chips and salsa, mingle on the menu with American dinners of steak, pork chops, roast beef, chicken and ham, served with a potato choice, bread and salad.
Specials during the week include tacos for $1.49 each on Tuesdays, and red snapper fish night on Fridays. Menudo, a specially made Mexican soup, is available on Saturdays and Sundays.
In addition, $4.99 specials are on hand all day, everyday.
The Mexican food could be considered authentic because thats where the Nunezes came from.
Both my parents were born in Mexico, Victor Jr. said.
There are no shortages of restaurants in the family. Mom, Maggie, runs the Roundup restaurant in Lewis.
Whats next for the family? There is always 19-year-old daughter Marlyn.
Benys is open seven days a week from 6:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and from 6:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sundays.
For more information, call Benys Restaurant at 565-5337.
Reach Paula Bostrom at paulab@cortezjournal.com.