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Date: 9/2/2021
HOLYOKE – There’s a new restaurant opening on Sept. 16 at 548 South St. called Taino Restaurant serving Latin American cuisine from Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic and the United States.
Co-owner/ manager Millie Garcia and her husband Co-owner/ executive chef Carlos Garcia explained, “The place used to be TNT Pizza Sports Bar & Grill which was a very popular spot. We want to bring something different to Holyoke. We’ll have regular Spanish food and also healthy dishes on the menu. At customer request, some dishes are going to be cooked in the air fryer instead of frying oils like empanadas, some meats and some other appetizers.”
According to Britannica, the Taino were Arawakan speaking indigenous people of the Caribbean. The name Taíno was given by Christopher Columbus. The Tainos were the first New World people Columbus encountered during his 1942 voyage. By the time Columbus came to America, the Taínos were living in the Bahamas, the Greater Antilles (Cuba, Jamaica, Hispaniola, and Puerto Rico) and some islands of the northern Lesser Antilles. When he saw some of the native men, they said, “Taino, Taino” which means “We are good, noble.”
Millie told Reminder Publishing the reason they started the restaurant is because they’ve always had a passion for culinary and traditions passed down to them for generations. “I want customers to feel comfortable. We are a family-oriented restaurant and I know that people are going to love our food and hospitality,” Millie said. “I think we’re going to do very well. We work hard and try our best. We have a lot of support from the town, and they can't wait until we open. We’re going to be in a good position.”
Taino Restaurant’s hours will be Monday-Thursday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.