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Restaurant brings Caribbean cuisine to 16 Acres area

Date: 11/29/2010

Nov. 29, 2010

By Debbie Gardner

Assistant Managing Editor

SPRINGFIELD -- There's an old adage that says food brings people together.

And bringing people together is just what the owners of Meliah's, Caribbean Cuisine, the city's newest restaurant located at 1060 Wilbraham Road in the 16 Acres neighborhood, hope their business will do.

"We say Caribbean cuisine because Puerto Rico is known to be part of the Caribbean, but it is Puerto Rican food," co-owner Yessenia Feliciano explained. "Our specialty is pulled pork, yellow rice with pigeon peas, white rice and beans and appetizers."

The menu also features traditional dishes including chicken and cube steak stews, pork chops, appetizers such as mofongo with pork or shrimp, tostones and yuca, and cod fish and octopus salads.

A sampling of the cuisine, as well as a taste of the entertainment Meliah's has in store for customers during the holiday season, were part of the festivities as Feliciano and her partner, Norberto Garcia, greeted family, friends and city dignitaries during the restaurant's grand opening on Nov, 17.

With a lively Salsa beat as their background, City Councilors Jose Tostada and Clodo Concepcion, Rep. Ben Swan, Latino Chamber of Commerce President Carlos Gonzalez and Mayor Domenic Sarno congratulated Feliciano and Garcia on their new venture.

"We are very proud to have these people here," Concepcion, who represents 16 Aces in the City Council, said. "Not too many people take a chance, especially the way the economy is today."

"This is not just [a restaurant] for the Latino culture, but for all the residents of the city, all 155,000 residents," Gonzalez, said. "I thank you for your investment."

"We do not have Spanish restaurants like this everywhere in the city," Sarno said of the tastefully appointed dining room. "This is a restaurant that happens to serve quality Spanish cuisine."

"Thank you for coming," Feliciano told the crowd, then added, jokingly, "I hope this is not the last time we see you."

Meliah's is the first business venture for the 34-year old Feliciano, who said she felt it was time to "take a chance" on her own business after working in various family businesses over the years.

This is the fourth business, but first restaurant, for Garcia, who also owns a security firm and teaches criminal justice at a local college.

Meliah's is open Monday to Friday from 11 a.m to 7 p.m. and Saturdays 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.



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