Erica Carranza, from left, along with Rosa Ramirez and Sandra Carranza, are shown inside the Restaurante Sabor Catracho at 2006 16th St., Moline.
It’s been a whirlwind year for Erica Carranza and many of her family members. The center of that whirlwind is the family’s new business – Restaurante Sabor Catracho at 2006 16th St., Moline. The restaurant, which brings authentic Honduran dishes to the foodies of the Quad Cities, celebrated its one-year anniversary last month. (Restaurante Sabor […]
It’s been a whirlwind year for Erica Carranza and many of her family members. The center of that whirlwind is the family’s new business – Restaurante Sabor Catracho at 2006 16th St., Moline.The restaurant, which brings authentic Honduran dishes to the foodies of the Quad Cities, celebrated its one-year anniversary last month. (Restaurante Sabor Catracho opened for business Feb. 18, 2023.)The now one-year-old Restaurante Sabor Catracho in Moline is open 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., Mondays through Saturdays. PHOTOS BY DAVE THOMPSON"I’m happy with how it has gone. … We didn’t expect so many people to step outside their comfort zones to try us,” said Ms. Carranza, who is co-owner of the family restaurant. (Her parents, Dennis and Sandra Carranza, also are owners of the restaurant, which employs about eight members of the family.)The Moline restaurant offers a wide variety of dishes for patrons who are willing to take a journey outside that comfort zone. Ms. Carranza said that some of the fan favorites in the past year include:
Pupusas: These are thick corn tortillas stuffed with various fillings, including refried beans, pork, cheese and more.
Baleadas: This is a traditional Hunduran dish composed of a flour tortilla, filled with mashed fried red beans, cheese and more.
Pollo chuco-Pollo con tajadas: Fried chicken with green fried plantains.
Other dishes include: steak fajitas, grilled steak with green fried plantains, fried chicken tacos and many other dishes.
Ms. Carranza said some people unfamiliar with the restaurant’s Honduran food menu believe it is similar to Mexican food. But, she added, there are differences. For instance, Mexican food tends to be spicier. Many Honduran foods tend to be seasoned with garlic, broth and other lighter herbs or spices.The owner said the business usually has a rush of customers from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., and from 5:50 to 7:30 p.m. (The business is open Mondays through Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.)This is a look inside Restaurante Sabor Catracho at 2006 16th St., Moline.In addition to the tasty food, Restaurante Sabor Catracho has been attracting customers with its service and the energy it brings to the community. (In a recent Facebook post, the restaurant praised staff members for the “upbeat energy” they bring to the job.)Restaurant employees also said they enjoy bringing that energy to the job. Plus, it’s a fun job, they said.“I love being with my family. … It’s fun being here. It’s a fun environment,” said Rosa Ramirez, manager of the restaurant.The past year has also been fun – and very busy – for Ms. Carranza. Here are a few of the lessons she has learned in the first year of the business:
Biggest surprises: Ms. Carranza said she has been surprised and pleased by the support the business has received in its opening year. Some of that support could be seen during the summer months when workers in the neighborhood crowded into the restaurant for their lunch breaks. She added that many people in the QC have been willing to take a food journey outside their comfort zones and try something new. The restaurant is still getting people willing to try something new almost every day.
Biggest challenges: One of the top challenges has centered on inflation issues in the restaurant business. The business owner said they have tried to keep prices low for their customers, but the rising prices of food continues to be a concern for the restaurant.
Most influential people in helping open the business: Ms. Carranza credits her parents with helping achieve the dream of opening the business. The Carranza family lived on Long Island, New York, until a couple of years ago. They visited the QC several times over the years to see other family members here. After moving here, they discovered the lack of restaurants serving authentic Honduran dishes and decided to take a chance and open Restaurante Sabor Catracho.
Future: The restaurant has two big goals in the coming months. First, Ms. Carranza said the business will begin serving alcoholic drinks. A bar area will be built in the back section of the restaurant and it will eventually offer happy hour deals. That change will likely happen before summer. Also, she wants to expand the menu and bring more authentic Honduran dishes to the foodies of the Quad Cities.
As she gets ready to make those changes to her restaurant, Ms. Carranza also has this advice for people thinking about getting into the restaurant business: “Take the leap of faith. The Quad Cities supports small businesses.” Editor’s note: Stories from a Startup is a new feature of the QCBJ that will spotlight Quad Cities startup businesses that have completed their first year in business. To suggest a company for us to spotlight, send an email to news@quadcitiesbusiness.com.
