Renowned Chef Jose Garces Opens First Main Line Restaurant

RADNOR, PA —It was not your typical ribbon cutting when renowned chef Jose Garces opened his first restaurant on the Main Line Tuesday morning.

A restaurant crew carried a 5-foot burrito on a wooden plank as a crowd gathered around a table outside of his new Mexican restaurant, Buena Onda, in Radnor Township.

More than two dozen guests gathered around a table to welcome Garces.

“Thank you so much for coming to Radnor,” State Sen. Amanda M. Cappelletti said. “We look forward to having you here and eating your food.”

“It’s a privilege and an honor for me to be here,” Garces responded. “I’ve been asked as a chef operating in Philadelphia for over 20 years, ‘ Hey Jose. When are you coming out to the Main Line?’ The time is right now.”

Garces is the 2009 winner of the James Beard Foundation’s prestigious “Best Chef Mid Atlantic” award. He also holds the title, “Iron Chef.” He appears regularly on the food network’s hit, “Iron Chef America.”

The countdown to opening then began.

“Four, three, two, one” the crowd chanted, as Garces chopped the burrito in half with a shiny knife outside the new restaurant at 228 North Radnor Chester Road.

The crowd clapped and cheered as Garces sliced and served the burrito to the guests.

Xenia Hewka Scott, director of member services for the Main Line Chamber of Commerce, welcomed Garces to the Main Line.

The spectators, including media and friends, were treated to a slice of the chicken burrito and invited inside the restaurant for slushy drinks. The restaurant features tacos, buena bowls, and burritos with chicken, shrimp and short ribs.

Beverages include sodas, sangria, and margaritas. The restaurant is expected to get a liquor license in the next few weeks.

During the gathering, Garces said that he anticipates opening other restaurants in the suburbs, possibly starting a franchise. He resides with his wife and children in Bucks County.

Longtime chef

Garces is an Ecuadorian American chef. He grew up in Chicago and studied culinary arts at Kendall College in Chicago.

He started out working for Chef Douglass Rodriguez in New York. He moved to Philadelphia and worked as executive chef for Stephen Starr’s restaurant El Vez.

He opened his first restaurant, Amada, an authentic tapas bar, in 2005. He also opened Tinto, a wine bar and restaurant; Distrito, celebrating the culture of Mexico City; Chifa, a Latin American restaurant; Village Whiskey, an American bar; Garces Trading Company, a European-Style cafe; and JG Domestic, an ingredient focused restaurant.

Garces also expanded, opening restaurants in Atlantic City, N.J., Scottsdale, Ariz.; and Palm Springs, Calif.

He provides catering for the Kimmel Center of the Arts in Philadelphia. Garces also is the author of cookbooks. More information about Chef Garces is available here.