The La Pachanga Mexican Restaurant in Herculaneum has plenty to celebrate this month.
It will mark its 18th anniversary with an Aug. 16 celebration at the restaurant, 1185 Scenic Dr., Suite 105. The restaurant also won three awards in the first Best of Jefferson County contest – Best Mexican Restaurant and Best Bar/Happy hour and finalist for Best Food Truck.
“We are so proud,” general manager Joe Rebollo said. “We want to show appreciation to our customers for choosing us.”
The celebration will be held under a big tent outside the restaurant.
“We will have live music, a band and also a DJ,” Rebollo said. “We will hold a dancing contest, and we will give away lots of stuff.”
The restaurant opened in 2007. The local franchise, which also has locations in Crystal City and Bonne Terre, started in 1997.
Rebollo said his Herculaneum staff work to serve the best food possible.
“We take care of customers like a family,” he said. “We do our best on food and service. I think that makes the difference.”
He said a new chef in the kitchen is whipping up new recipes using fresh ingredients.
“We will try to have different dishes regularly,” Rebollo said.
He credits the win for Best Bar/Happy Hour in part to Thursday’s Bar Bingo, which started last winter.
“I said, ‘Let’s do bingo for maybe a couple of months,’” Rebollo said.
But, he said, the game was so popular, it continues weekly.
“We cannot stop. Too many people like to play,” he said.
The restaurant also operates an award-winning La Pachanga food truck.
“We do catering for big events and parties,” Rebollo said. “Now we can take care of one person up to 200 or 300 people.”
More details can be found at laspachangas.com and on social media.