Friends were always complimenting Joanie Cunningham about her Mexican and Chinese cooking – which they raved about.

‘This is so good you should serve this in your restaurant’, her friends told her.

Fast-forward a couple of years and tonight Joanie opens El Mexicana, in her restaurant, which by day goes by the name Joanies Baked Goodies.

“I have so long wanted to do this,” Joanie told Schroon Laker today.

Tonight’s opening comes at a time when Joanie has fought a mysterious illness, which has kept her out of the daily running of her restaurant and bakery for the last couple of years.

“I am very excited about this new venture.”

“It was either going to be Chinese or Mexican – Chinese cooking is just too labor intensive, so we are doing Mexican.”

The restaurant will feature a variety of tacos, burritos, and quesadillas, with different fillings. After their opening night, they will feature a daily Mexican specialty, “using the freshest ingredients that are available to us.”

Expect to be greeted by sombrero wearing staff. There will also be a Mexican Cut-Out where folks can pop their heads through for a picture taking opportunity.

To her knowledge, Joanie says this is the first full time mexican restaurant in Schroon.

(There was a Mexican Pop-up restaurant at Mr. P’s Mountain Smokehouse this past winter.)

The restaurant will be open Wednesday through Sunday  -- from 5pm  - 10pm Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and 12 noon to 9 pm on the remaining days.

The restaurant’s all you can each weekend brunch and bakery hours remain the same.

1061 Route 9 (Main Street) Schroon Lake.   (518) 532-9900