“font-family: Times,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;”><span style=

“font-family: Arial;”>An old breakfast hot spot received a major

facelift recently.

“font-family: Arial;”>Angie’s Cantina, 2416 Lincoln Way, has

replaced Angie’s Kitchen, though the new owners did save some of

the old restaurant’s charm.

“font-family: Arial;”>Peter Muljadi and his father, Iwan, took over

the restaurant in February 2010. Peter, who grew up in Ames, saw

potential in the business.

“font-family: Arial;”>”The breakfast was great,” Peter said, “but

there was a huge chunk of time when nothing was being

served.”

“font-family: Arial;”>While they kept the breakfast menu, the

Muljadis introduced a new lunch and dinner menu featuring Spanish

food when they reopened.

“font-family: Arial;”>”It’s mostly Mexican food, with some Spanish

food and kind of a fusion of Latin and Spanish dishes,” Peter

said.

“font-family: Arial;”>There are 18 Spanish restaurants in Ames,

according to the Ames

Chamber of Commerce. Only

about seven of those are chain restaurants, the rest are original,

local creations.

“font-family: Arial;”>Peter and Iwan have a plan to compete with

all of those eateries. The food, Peter said, is the most authentic

Mexican in town.

“font-family: Arial;”>”Our tacos are just like you’ll find in

Mexico,” he said. “We don’t use cheese, we just used seasoned

beef.”

“font-family: Arial;”>Another signature item from Angie’s Cantina

is the sangria, a red wine punch.

“font-family: Arial;”>”We’re the only place in town I know of doing

sangrias,” Peter said. “They are virtually

hangover-proof.”

“font-family: Arial;”>He said Angie’s Cantina’s sangrias consist

completely of wine, whereas some places add brandy or other spirits

that produce a stronger, harsher affect.

“font-family: Arial;”>Peter said the beers, wines and other drinks

his restaurant now offers add to the relaxed atmosphere he and his

father created. When they acquired the space, they found the

restaurant was an uncomfortable environment.

“font-family: Arial;”>”It wasn’t what we wanted,” he

said. 

“font-family: Arial;”>The Muljadis invested in new flooring because

the old floor was slippery and hazardous. They also bought new

tables, artwork, lighting and they repainted the walls for a more

Hispanic feel.

“font-family: Arial;”>”Good food, good wine, good music” is the

slogan Peter is working for.

“font-family: Arial;”>”We want people to come hang out and just

relax,” he said. 

“font-family: Arial;”>They’ve also experimented with theme nights.

Recently they held a salsa night, which Peter said turned out

really well.

“font-family: Arial;”>”Places like La Fuente are good to take your

parents to, and you could bring your parents here, too, but the

drinks make it more grown-up,” Peter said.

“font-family: Arial;”>Angie’s Cantina has acquired a wider variety

of clientele since its update. <span style=

“font-family: Arial,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;”>The new menu

attracts professors, graduate students, and locals as well as the

college students who have always frequented the

restaurant.

“font-family: Arial;”>Despite all the changes, Peter and Iwan have

more plans in the works as they look to remodel

further.

“font-family: Arial;”>”We want to be something different,” Peter

said.