New Portsmouth Restaurant Is Open

Following a week of intense transformation, the new Ole Burritos and Beer officially opened for business on Tuesday in time for the hungry lunch crowd who immediately embraced the menu of burritos, quesadilla's and tacos.

Some former Me and Ollie's Bakery Cafe customers were a little surprised when they walked into the Pleasant Street eatery and discovered the changes made by owner Roger Elkus. But they immediately embraced the new menu that includes extensive beer choices.

The new restaurant held a soft opening on Sunday where some friends and family members were able to sample the new menu and check out the decor.

Besides the new menu and beer, Ole Burritos and Beer patrons were greeted by Southwestern style decor set against a backdrop of a soft hue of green and yellow painted walls. While the decor includes some cowboy boots and a cactus, there are no sombreros or pinatas present. The former downstairs family room is also closed, but the restrooms are still in tact.

When Portsmouth Patch previously interviewed Elkus and Ole Burritos and Beer General Manger Curtis Thistle about their new venture, both of them said the changing demographics of downtown Portsmouth and the restaurant market is ready for more Mexican and Southwestern style fare.

Elkus said then that Thistle created an exciting menu of unique tacos and burritos will set set the new restaurant apart from other Portsmouth eateries like Dos Amigos Burritos, Poco's Bow Street Cantina and Agave and Vida Cantina that recently opened at the former Friendly's restaurant on Lafayette Road.

"We're going to exercise some creative license in terms of what we do with tacos and burritos," Elkus said.

Elkus also said there is also no real ceiling when it comes to the demand for Mexican and Southwest-style food in the Portsmouth area. "People are asking for it, they are calling for it and they are buying it."

Ole' Burritos and Beer's hours will be on Sunday to Thursday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and on Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.