An Indiana judge has made a significant decision in his court that could change the food world’s description of their favorite Mexican-style foods. He has ruled that tacos and burritos are considered sandwiches.
Restauranteur Martin Quintana wanted to open a second installment of his Famous Taco eatery in Fort Wayne, Indiana. According to Fox News, the location was only zoned for “a sandwich bar-style restaurant whose primary business is to sell ‘made-to-order’ or ‘subway-style’ sandwiches.”
Quintana sued the Fort Wayne Plan Commission in December 2022 after it denied an amendment that would allow his restaurant to sell made-to-order tacos, burritos, and other Mexican-style foods. The owner and operator claimed that tacos and burritos were Mexican-style sandwiches and that they should be allowed to be served on the premises of the proposed location.
Tacos and burritos are sandwiches, judge rules in restaurant case https://t.co/eB2aKsmHCF
— PennLive.com (@PennLive) May 17, 2024
ABC30 shared Judge Craig Bobay’s ruling on the matter. “The Court agrees with Quintana that tacos and burritos are Mexican-style sandwiches, and the original Written Commitment does not restrict potential restaurants to only American cuisine-style sandwiches.”
Quintana told ABC30 that the tortas he uses to hold the fillings are bread. “You know, that’s a sandwich, that’s bread. We go through a lot of those.”
The Associated Press reported that Quintana is relieved that this ordeal is behind him and is looking forward to opening up a second restaurant in Fort Wayne. He said, “I’m glad this thing is over. We are happy. When you have a decision like this the only thing you can be is happy. We’re excited.”
Quintana revealed that the new restaurant should open within three months. He promises the new eatery will supply the same products and services customers have come to expect at its flagship location, which opened around seven years ago. The eatery allows consumers to choose their toppings to personalize their tacos, burritos, or tortas.
Quintana shared his story of arriving in the United States from Mexico in 1988 with AP. Before becoming a restauranteur, he picked grapes, olives, and kiwi fruit. He previously had eateries in Michigan and Chicago before moving to Indiana in 2001.
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