New restaurant at Cross Pointe Centre comes with a twist

Rancheros Cocina Mexicana opens in space that was going to be an El Rancho Grande, but there is a family connection

Credit: DaytonDailyNews

A new restaurant that opened at Cross Pointe Centre strayed a bit from the original plan, but its renovated interior and extensive menu will ease the transition for diners.

>>You can get some of the best Mexican food in Dayton from a drive-thru

The retail center in Centerville added a new Mexican restaurant called Rancheros Cocina Mexicana in space that was originally confirmed last year as an El Rancho Grande Mexican Grill & Cantina. But Rancheros Cocina's co-founder says there is a family connection between the new concept and the regional El Rancho Grande chain that operates seven other Dayton-area restaurants.

>>GUIDE: The best Mexican in Dayton 

Co-founder and general manager Arturo Magana said he and two other family members who are co-founders of Rancheros Cocina have worked for and are collaborating with El Rancho Grande, which is owned and operated by members of their extended family.

 

>>PHOTOS: Did we spot you chowing down at this year’s Bacon Fest?

** NOTE: We have new information today on this story about ANOTHER new Mexican restaurant coming to Centerville: 

>> El Toro to open 13th Dayton-area restaurant this fall

The new Cross Pointe restaurant fills space that has not had a full-time tenant in nearly three years. It is located between Play It Again Sports and Great Miami Outfitters in space that previously housed Nonnie Waller’s Parlor, which shut its doors in October 2015.

>> RELATED: New Nonnie Waller’s shop praised by Oprah opens Friday in Centerville (March 2014)

The Rancheros Cocina Mexicana menu includes fajitas, chimichangas, enchiladas, burritos and other Mexican specialties, including the Jalisco Special: Sauteed shrimp, chicken or steak in red sauce served with zucchini, mushrooms, tomatoes, onions and rice, topped with cheese.

The new restaurant has an extensive tequila selection, has nine beer taps and also serves wine.

>> SWING & A MISS: No new liquor store after all for Fairborn, state says

Cross Pointe’s Rancheros Cocina Mexicana seats about 180 and employs 14, Magana said. It is open for lunch and dinner seven days a week. For more information about Rancheros Cocina Mexicana, call (937) 262-7505.

>> Opening date set for El Rancho Grande’s Kettering restaurant (May 2017)

The related El Rancho Grande chain operates seven Dayton-area restaurants and another seven in greater Cincinnati. In 2017, the regional chain opened a new location on West Dorothy Lane in Kettering, in space that previously housed an Applebee’s restaurant. And it subsequently opened a new restaurant at 7375 Old Troy Pike (Ohio 202) in Huber Heights . That opening, however, was accompanied by the closing of the El Rancho Grande that had operated for 12 years nearby on Poe Avenue in Vandalia.

>> Mexican restaurant shuts down in Vandalia, relocates to Huber Heights

>> Applebee’s franchise owner closes one of its Kettering restaurants

About the Author