Anything but subtle, the façade of La Casa del Mojito boasts bright-yellow paint, with a few short palms and a patio hugging its angular frame.
While a noticeable feature to area residents off Lake City Way Northeast, it remains difficult to find and reach, blocked by the Interstate 5 on-ramp tunnel. Still, customers often seek it out, and it's become a home away from home for many neighbors.
"This place was just empty. It used to be a coffee shop, Happy Go Latte, and we put in everything," said co-owner Luam Wersom.
Wersom, along with partner Luigi Valenciano, installed the heating, the water and the kitchen equipment to create a familial and intimate atmosphere for those who appreciate Latin American food.
A Latin American fusion
The building, at 7545 Lake City Way NE, was originally constructed in 1923 as a gas station.
Now, the restaurant has about eight tables for seating, and on a sunny day, people squeeze outside on the patio.
La Casa del Mojito serves a Latin American fusion, emphasizing Cuban, Venezuelan and Colombian dishes. Options include tortilla española, tostones (crispy, fried green plantains) served with mojito sauce, and a favorite, Parilla de Luigi, a citrus-marinated steak.
There isn't a full bar, but customers can order mojitos, drinks native to Brazil, Peru, Chile and Cuba.
"Anything South American we can make it here; but our kitchen is so small, our menu is limited," Wersom said.
The owners host private parties, expand their menu and cater weddings, parties on yachts and baseball games. According to Valenciano, he is the godfather to Omar Vizquel's children, and many Mariners players come in, like Freddie Garcia, Jose Lopez and Felix Hernandez.
Home away from home
"You come here because there's that warm, family atmosphere and great food," Carolyn Kyle said.
Kyle, a regular customer, discovered the restaurant after it opened in November 2001. With the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks still fresh in people's minds, it proved to be a difficult time to venture into business
"We are one of the six out of 24 restaurants left that were opened that year," Wersom said.
The two owners can contribute their restaurant's longevity to great food and an equally interesting atmosphere. "Eighty percent of the people that come here, we know them somehow - we're connected to them. We just don't throw down the menu, but we explain to them the food," Wersom said.
And they keep it entertaining. Don't be surprised if a server or cook dances with one of the female customers or plays the drums while waiting for an order.
"You come in here, you're embraced, you do a little bit of dancing.... It's warm; you escape the gray of Seattle," Kyle said.
Kyle has shared the experience with friend Don Latimer. "He would be licking that plate right now, if he didn't know better," she said, laughing.
"I come when I'm visiting her [from Puyallup], and this is where we end up," Latimer said.
An active part of the neighborhood, the owners host students from Shorecrest, Seattle Prep, Shorewood and Lynnwood. "We open an hour early, we teach them Spanish, we teach them about different types of foods, because South America. It's not just Mexico; it's another world, and a lot of people think it's just Mexico," Wersom said.
It's not just the food
Valenciano, 38, is from Mexico, but has lived in Seattle for the last 20 years. He created the recipes and also co-owned Café Mojito Downtown until two years ago.
Wersom, 25, came to Seattle from East Africa in 1993 and worked in the kitchen at Bellevue Square's Island Club until it closed down. Wersom bought the kitchen equipment and teamed up with Valenciano to create La Casa del Mojito.
"I'm an old soul," said Wersom, who spends the majority of his time at La Casa del Mojito but loves it. "Everybody has been here four years. We are family; we barbeque together.... We used to be roommates - my business partner and I - even though he got married on me.... It's not like we work and we go home." he said.
The restaurant, while hidden off Lake City Way, is a destination for many people seeking true Latin American cuisine.
"This is a crazy location that we're in here and people come here, because they know we're here," Wersom said.
Despite write-ups in numerous papers, he likes to keep it simple: "Instead of me spending $5,000 on advertising, people come in and I might give them a gift certificate and say, 'Hey, bring your family, bring your friends.'"
Chances are, they probably will.
Abby Lund writes about places Off the Beaten Path on the third Wednesday of the month. She can be reached at needitor@nwlink.com.
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