From their table to yours: Taking inspiration from their mothers, friends open 3 Amigos in Amherst offering Caribbean-infused Mexican cuisine

Matias Martinez and Jose Diaz co-own a new restaurant called 3 Amigos in the Mill District of North Amherst along with Antonio Marques, not pictured. “We are three really good friends from different countries,” Martinez said, explaining that they met while working at Mexcalito, a taco bar in Amherst Center that closed last year.

Matias Martinez and Jose Diaz co-own a new restaurant called 3 Amigos in the Mill District of North Amherst along with Antonio Marques, not pictured. “We are three really good friends from different countries,” Martinez said, explaining that they met while working at Mexcalito, a taco bar in Amherst Center that closed last year. STAFF PHOTO/CAROL LOLLIS

Matias Martinez and Jose Diaz co-own a new restaurant called 3 Amigos  in the Mill District of North Amherst along with Antonio Marques, not pictured. “We are three really good friends from different countries,” Martinez said, explaining that they met while working at Mexcalito, a taco bar in Amherst center that closed last year. The restaurant reflects that diverse background, offering Caribbean-infused Mexican cuisine.

Matias Martinez and Jose Diaz co-own a new restaurant called 3 Amigos in the Mill District of North Amherst along with Antonio Marques, not pictured. “We are three really good friends from different countries,” Martinez said, explaining that they met while working at Mexcalito, a taco bar in Amherst center that closed last year. The restaurant reflects that diverse background, offering Caribbean-infused Mexican cuisine. STAFF PHOTO/CAROL LOLLIS

Pal Campo, a dish at 3 Amigos, which is  co-owned by Matias Martinez, Jose Diaz and Antonio Marques.

Pal Campo, a dish at 3 Amigos, which is co-owned by Matias Martinez, Jose Diaz and Antonio Marques.

Chile en Nogada, a dish at 3 Amigos, co-owned by Matias Martinez, Jose Diaz and Antonio Marques.

Chile en Nogada, a dish at 3 Amigos, co-owned by Matias Martinez, Jose Diaz and Antonio Marques. STAFF PHOTOS/CAROL LOLLIS

Pal Campo, front, and Pastel de Choclo, back, two more dishes at 3 Amigos.

Pal Campo, front, and Pastel de Choclo, back, two more dishes at 3 Amigos.

By SCOTT MERZBACH

Staff Writer

Published: 09-03-2024 11:14 AM

AMHERST — Inspired by meals their mothers prepared for them while growing up, the owners of a new restaurant in the Mill District in North Amherst are bringing Caribbean-infused Mexican cuisine to a wider community.

“We have the best dishes from Puerto Rico, the best dishes from Chile and the best dishes from Mexico,” says Matias Martinez, a native of Chile who co-owns 3 Amigos, located in The Trolley Barn at 68 Cowls Road. “Every one of these dishes is really, really special.”

The owners give two examples: Pastel de Choclo, a popular Chilean oven-baked pie filled with ground beef, olives, onions, hard-boiled eggs and topped with a corn souffle, and Pal Campo, a Puerto Rican dish featuring two pork chops, rice, stewed beans and tostones.

 Martinez is running 3 Amigos with Jose Diaz, a native of Puerto Rico, and Mexican native Antonio Marques, dubbing their restaurant Latin American Gastronomy. The trio is hoping to offer something unique, both to the region’s dining scene and to a part of town where there are limited options for meals.

“We are three really good friends from different countries,” Martinez said, explaining that they met while working at Mexcalito, a taco bar in Amherst center that closed last year.

They then began talking about starting a restaurant with various dishes and, as Diaz puts it, “excellent service, good food.”

“We decided to make Mexico food infused with Latin America,” Diaz said.

“We have tried to bring the best ideas from other restaurants, and try to do the best job ever,” Martinez said.

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One of the Mexican dishes, Chile en Nogada, is drawn from the way it is made by Marques’ grandmother, featuring stuffed poblano peppers, with a sweet and savory meat filling, and then drizzled with a walnut cream sauce and topped with pomegranate seeds and a sprinkling of parsley.

A version of Chile en Nogada would typically only be available at high-end restaurants, Martinez said. “It’s one of the fancy plates and really tasty, with fruits, nuts, an explosion of flavors when you try the plate,” Martinez said.

In its fourth month after opening in May, 3 Amigos is also the fourth restaurant to call the space home, but the first to regularly offer dinner. Originally Bread & Butter when it opened in 2015, that was followed by Jake’s and Cisco’s Cafe, all of which have specialized in breakfast and brunch.

The ambience inside has changed a bit to have a Caribbean feel, with a large painting of Mexican artist Frida Kahlo greeting customers, and also ornamentation from Puerto Rico and Chile.

The business has relied on word of mouth so far, starting slow before the University of Massachusetts and local colleges are back in session. “We are trying to make a good kitchen working slowly toward when students are coming,” Martinez said.

The menu, which has a children’s section for “amiguitos,” also has appetizers such as empanadas and chips and guacamole. While tacos are among the most popular items, there are also options for vegetarians and eventually there will be gluten free offerings. For those seeking a more conventional meal, the restaurant’s menu has a variety of angus beef burgers and salads.

Main dishes range in price from $17 to $27, with kids meals around $5.

3 Amigos is open 4 to 9 p.m. each day, expanded 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. hours on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. On those days, a breakfast menu is available until 2 p.m., with many of the items more Americanized.

3 Amigos doesn’t yet have an alcohol license, though mocktails, are available. Customers are allowed to bring their own alcohol beverages, and across the street is Provisions where they can pick up a bottle of wine or a craft brew.

W.D. Cowls President Cinda Jones said that 3 Amigos is the latest in a line of businesses in the area, with Herrell’s Ice Cream to open a stand and the Cow Palace, previously occupied by Provisions before moving to its bigger space, currently vacant.

Jones said she looks at it as a “dynamic downtown” on the edge of the outdoors, with proximity to Mill River Recreation Area and trails near Puffer’s Pond.

One indication of their success so far is that Martinez and Diaz have both had the opportunity to serve their own mothers, receiving compliments on the quality and presentation of the dishes.

The owners hope to introduce cuisine from more countries, possibly adding Peruvian and Argentinean food, but also note that Mexico and Chile, in particular, have limitless options.

“The plan is every three months assessing the different specials,” Diaz said. “That way, you can try different plates, and not get bored with the same plate.”