The Pirata
After working together at an area restaurant, Christian Jimenez, left, and David Lopez decided to open their own restaurant, The Pirata, in Clintonville.
305 S. Main St., Clintonville | (715) 460-3087
David Lopez, originally from Guatemala, moved to Marion, about 15 years ago because his wife’s family had connections in the area. Christian Jimenez, who is from Veracruz, Mexico, has lived in the Clintonville area for about four years.
Their paths crossed about three years ago when they worked together at a Clintonville restaurant.
Today, they are using their south-of-the border cooking skills as co-owners of The Pirata, a restaurant they opened June 4 in the former Pizza Hut building at 305 S. Main St. in Clintonville.
Lopez has been in the restaurant industry for more than 25 years and previously cooked at an Italian restaurant in Chicago for seven years.
“I really enjoy Italian cooking and wanted to bring more Italian options to the menu,” he said. “It’s why we have things such as chicken parmesan, alfredo, spaghetti and other pasta dishes, sauces and garlic bread on the menu. We offer breakfast, Mexican and Italian specials daily.”
Jimenez, who also has worked as a cook, said he was influenced by his mother.
“She was an awesome cook,” he said. “She cooked a lot with seafood and jalapeños. My favorite was Camarones a la Diabla, a Mexican style shrimp served with rice, beans and tortillas. David used that same idea and added Camarones a la Diabla Italiano to the menu — shrimp with onion, tomato, garlic, spicy peppers, and noodles served with garlic bread. It’s a favorite on our menu.”
Lopez, who has an entrepreneurial spirit, previously ran another business, leasing the Cabin Inn restaurant in Cecil.
“It went well,” he said, “but it was only a three-year lease. I’ve been looking for another opportunity in the Marion-Clintonville area — it’s a nice community, and I know many people from the surrounding area.
He said he had been keeping his eye on the old Pizza Hut building in Clintonville as it’s been sitting empty for years.
“I was going to purchase it myself, but I asked Christian if he was interested in going into business with me,” he said. “We got along well, and I could tell he was a hard worker. Christian was willing to partner with me. We both cook, manage and run the day-to-day operations and do whatever is needed. Sometimes, we take the order, cook it and serve it.”
They have other staff that help in the kitchen and are hoping to add some more regular employees.
“We are a Mexican restaurant, but the style of our restaurant is more like a family restaurant serving breakfast all day, lunch and dinner,” Lopez said. “We really wanted to give the population in this area a choice. We have a typical American breakfast such as eggs, hashbrowns and choice of meat with toast. We also offer build-your-own omelets. It can also be made Mexican style such as a breakfast burrito or huevos divorciados (eggs with green and red sauce).”
Along with the all-day breakfast, lunch is served from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. every day except Wednesday when The Pirata is closed. Dinner is served until 8 p.m. except Sunday when they are open from 8 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
“We have dine-in, a large to-go business, and Door Dash options,” Lopez said. “We try to help our lunch crowd get in and out quickly. Many have short lunch breaks, so we try to have their lunch served in 4-5 minutes. One of our lunch items that is designed to get lunch customers served quickly is our Speedy Gonzales. It’s one taco with enchiladas served with rice and beans, it’s made quickly and the price is reasonable.”
Many items on the menu are American with a Mexican flare such as the Cancun Burger — a cheeseburger with bacon, pineapple and avocado served with fries. There’s also a hot dog with mayonnaise, bacon, pineapple, onions, jalapeños and mozzarella.
“We also offer traditional, and very large, burritos,” Lopez said. “They have more of a Tex-Mex flavor and there are a variety of options such as the Burrito Loco, House Burrito, Florida Burrito, Breakfast Burrito, and of course, the Clintonville Burrito that includes a choice of ground beef or beef tips, rice and beans, cheese and enchilada sauce. If you want a more authentic experience, try the Mexican Quesabirria. It’s slow-cooked beef in a corn tortilla with cilantro, onions and cheese served with a dipping broth of beef consomme.”
On Fridays, The Pirata serves the typical breaded perch or cod fish fry with a side of potato, veggies and slaw. A Mexican baked cod topped with onions, peppers, jalapeños and tomatoes that comes with rice, beans and warm tortillas is another option.
The family-friendly menu offers options for kids such as a Mickey Mouse pancake with an egg and choice of two pieces of bacon or sausage and a taco meal with rice and beans. Enchiladas, quesadillas and chicken fingers are also on the Kid’s Menu.
A variety of appetizers, desserts and salads are available.
“Our food is homemade, with many meats slow roasted,” Lopez said.
American and Mexican beer is offered as well as bottled Jarritos (a soda made with cane sugar) or Pepsi fountain sodas. All dinners are served with complimentary homemade chips and salsa, which is made by Lopez. He also makes guacamole to order so it can be served fresh.
“We welcome everyone and have something for everyone’s taste,” he said.
