TEMECULA, Calif. – (May 5, 2021) – The tastes, flavors and aromas of the best food from Mexico and Central and South American countries take center stage this Cinco de Mayo and every day afterward at Pechanga Resort Casino. A new dining concept for the resort/casino, the 1882 Cantina opens May 5 to the public. Taking over the restaurant space once occupied by the Lobby Bar & Grill in Pechanga’s modern and glass enclosed atrium lobby, guests can enjoy brunch and dinner at the new restaurant. The dishes and specialty fare featured on the menu are traditional and recognizable from the most well-known culinary regions of Mexico and beyond such as Oaxaca, Baja California and Estado de Mexíco. Guests who appreciate crafted cocktails will also approve of the specialty beverage menu featuring 10 distinct mezcals, 30 tequilas, 10 varieties of Margaritas, as well as other spirits with true ties to Latin American countries. The 1882 Cantina will be open Sunday, Monday and Thursday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Guests are invited to celebrate Cinco de Mayo and enjoy live mariachi music at 1882 Cantina on May 5, 6 and 7 from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
“We are incredibly thrilled to add this amazing Mexican restaurant to our collection of fine dining outlets,” said Andrew Masiel, President of the Pechanga Development Corporation. “It is the one culinary taste that has been missing from our assortment of restaurants. The rich and diverse flavors from the dishes at 1882 Cantina are stunning. We know our guests are going to be impressed.”
The menu, crafted by Pechanga chefs Andre Alto and Andre Pinto, features dozens of dishes perfect for sharing among the table, plentiful seafood selections, aromatic meats and the freshest produce and herbs, much of it grown locally in Southern California. The chefs also bet guests will love 1882’s tortillas which are made by Esperanza’s Tortilleria locally in Escondido, Calif. Upon opening, Chef Andre Alto takes the restaurant reins to offer one more international dining selection within Pechanga Resort Casino.
The casual setting offers guests a place to meet, enjoy fútbol or another sporting event on the dining outlet’s televisions and savor food and drinks together just as is important in so many Mexican, Central and South American cultures.
Pechanga’s restaurants are open with still a limited seating capacity to encourage social distancing. Please check Pechanga.com before visiting to see the most up to date amenity openings, hours of operation and safety protocols.
The History of 1882
1882 was one of the most important years ever in the history of the Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians. On June 27, 1882, President Chester A. Arthur issued an Executive Order re-establishing the government-to-government relationship between Pechanga and the United States and setting aside a mere 4,000 acres for the Pechanga Indian Reservation.
The Pechanga People have lived in the Temecula Valley since time immemorial. Finally, 30 years after the conclusion of the Treaty at the Village of Temecula, the promise of permanent lands for the Pechanga People was fulfilled. The Treaty of Temecula would have given tribes about 12,000 square miles of Southern California. But as gold was discovered in California, the U.S. Senate did not ratify the Treaty of Temecula – along with 17 others. State actions led to California Native Americans being legally exterminated, enslaved, and oppressed. Millions of acres of land were forcibly taken by the State of California for the benefit of individuals and corporations.
Our ancestors endured floods, fires, droughts, economic scarcity, disease, and invasions, struggling to survive to ensure a better life for future generations. Thanks to them, a new day has dawned in which our Tribe is realizing self-reliance and employing thousands of Californians. With confidence that our children and grandchildren will preserve our tribal sovereignty, our culture and traditions, we look forward to a bright future.