AMHERST — Those with a hankering for breakfast food with a “touch of Spanish” might want to stop in at Cisco’s Cafe, a new breakfast and lunch restaurant that opened recently in the Mill District.
In addition to taking in the delightful smell of coffee, eggs and bread, customers who first step into Cisco’s might also feel their stomachs rumble when they see a breakfast burrito steaming in front of another hungry customer.
No matter what they order, every customer is greeted with a “Hello, welcome!” from a friendly server, and while they wait to order their food they can take in the rustic atmosphere of the breakfast joint while also enjoying the view of Amherst’s Mill District.
Cisco’s, which opened its doors in December, is located in the space that formerly housed Jake’s at The Mill, the eatery features a combination of Mexican, Salvadoran and American breakfast and lunch foods, in addition to coffee from Esselon Cafe and Pierce Brothers.
During breakfast hours, the restaurant serves traditional Salvadorian dishes like pupusas, tamales and tipicos, in addition to American-style eggs, breakfast sandwiches and omelets. And for lunch, the menu includes burritos, bowls and burgers.
“I’m the type of person that wants to see a little fanciness on things,” said owner Francisco Perez, who also owns Amherst House of Pizza. “I thought we needed a breakfast place that offers the touch of Spanish food breakfast… that’s what makes this place different than any other.”
Perez is originally from El Salvador. He moved to Amherst in 1991 when he saw an opportunity to start a new future in New England. During his first four years in the area, he learned to make pizza from the late Bruno Matarazzo at Antonio’s Pizza.
“That’s where my story in the kitchen began. That’s when I started as a pizza guy,” Perez said.
After nearly 20 years of working at three different restaurants, all of which served pizza, Perez developed his own recipe inspired by what he’d learned.
“I always wanted to start my own business,” Perez said.
He originally wanted to launch a building business, but his 20-plus years of experience in the kitchen led him to establish Amherst House of Pizza (AHOP) in 2010. Located near Cumberland Farms in North Amherst, AHOP has been a staple of A mherst for over 22 years.
But while opening his pizza restaurant was “a blast,” the early days of Cisco’s Cafe feel a little different. With a less-trafficked location, a post-COVID environment and high costs, business has been slower than Perez had hoped.
“It’s growing like a plant that I can’t find the right fertilizer,” said Perez. “I kind of talk to myself sometimes and say, ‘OK, let’s be patient. It’s going to grow.’ ”
Perez anticipates that warmer springtime temperatures will bring in more customers, and he plans to install a patio outside the restaurant to attract more people. And, though Cisco’s does already offer cold horchata, Perez is also working on adding cold drinks to the menu like iced lattes, which customers have started asking for. Perez said that customers who have visited keep coming back, but it’s been difficult to spread the word that the cafe even exists.
Marga Coler, a returning customer who had just visited for the first time a few days prior ordered the vegan scramble. “It was really delicious, lots of fresh vegetables and flavor.”
While at the restaurant, Perez calls himself “the everything guy.”
“I’m your food server, food runner. Your barista, and your bussing the table guy,” he said. “I don’t play the boss coming to give orders to people unless I have to make a correction.”
Before opening the cafe to customers, Perez ran a test run for friends, family, and friends of friends, where he asked for feedback and opinions.
“That day was emotional… I was pumped up, like this how I want to see this place,” he said. The goal is to have the cafe bustling with people and energy.
“Once we get the steady flow, it slowly is gonna grow. This whole area is trying to develop, and new businesses are trying to come is, so maybe when more businesses are in the plaza there’ll be more people walking around,” said Perez.