Nothing Wrong With \u201CLo Mismo\u201D Cuckoo\u2019s Nest Continues to Delight

Photo by Jeffery Lilly

Gregorio Laramunaz, Heather Emanuelson, Omar Torres, Edmilson Souza

Nothing Wrong With“Lo Mismo” Cuckoo’s Nest Continues to Delight

by RONA MANN

When you’ve got something that’s working – that’s been working for 43 years – you don’t mess with it.

But you do keep a watchful eye on it, every single day. You do listen to your customers, every single day. You keep delivering nothing but fresh and from-scratch food, every single day. And every now and then, when the mood hits, you do tweak it.

This is Cuckoo’s Nest (no “the” in their name), that delightful award-winning restaurant that’s been feeding the coastline for 43 years. Yes, it’s Mexican food, but it’s also Southwestern food, it’s fresh seafood, and the best meats. It’s crisp salads, hamburgers, hot dogs, street tacos, and fajitas. It’s steak and seafood and New Orleans Cajun gumbo and made-fresh-daily soups. It’s also a gluten free menu, something for the vegetarian, and something for the omnivore. In short, Cuckoo’s Nest is YOUR kind of place, a place you can frequent...well, frequently, because there are so many menu choices and so many different kinds of cuisine. Think Mexican food is heavy? “Not at all,” says Mari, who laughingly gives her title at the restaurant as “Observe and Suggest.” “That’s a stigma that’s wrong. Here we have a lot of vegetables, fresh meat, and fish...you won’t go to sleep after lunch!”

Customers who frequent Cuckoo’s Nest do so for the atmosphere (fun and friendly), the waitstaff (knowledgeable, and also fun and friendly), and Jason, holder of the title of Best Bartender Statewide. To say Jason is “fun and friendly” is an understatement. He is exactly what every restaurateur wants in their bartender and exactly what every customer wants from their bartender. He is chatty and friendly, without being annoying or cloying. He can mix up a mean Margarita or anything else you care to throw at him, and best of all – most important of all – he KNOWS his customers. “He remembers everyone, what they drink, and how they like it,” says Heather Emanuelson, co-owner and General Manager of Cuckoo’s Nest.

Great drinks and company where happy hour always lives up to it’s name. Photo by Jeffery Lilly

Both she and Eddie Souza, her partner, have a long history with the restaurant, and that makes for the best kind of owners because they know it from every side. Heather started as a waitress and put herself through college by waiting tables at Cuckoo’s Nest, while Eddie toiled in the kitchen, first as a dishwasher, later becoming Head Chef. That’s the thing about this very special restaurant: there’s a consistency of employment and a loyalty that’s unmatched by the employees.

Eddie enjoys showing off the kitchen, and why not? It is thoroughly whistle clean. “The inspectors who come through here always say this is the place they would bring their families because it’s so clean,” he says with enviable pride. There’s certainly every reason for pride because when it comes to cleanliness and order, Souza is a tough taskmaster. Everything in “his kitchen” has a place, everything is in its place, and every place is immaculate, being constantly and consistently cleaned. From the smiling lady who makes desserts from scratch, to the grills, to the ovens where tortillas and nachos are fashioned, to the walk-in cooler and freezer, it is not hard to see why such a wonderful product comes out of this space every day.

Sundays at Cuckoo’s Nest features their famous All-You-Can-Eat Buffet, a mouth-watering variety of food including an omelette station, taco bar, carving station, french toast, ham, Cajun specialties, Mexican favorites, desserts, and more. It’s served from 10AM-2PM in addition to Cuckoo Nest’s regular menu, and offered at the astounding price of just $15.99.

Jason Guercia, voted best at the bar

Make your reservation now to join Heather, Eddie, Jason, and Mari for the Mother’s Day Buffet with added meat and seafood specials and a family-friendly price tag of only $19.99 per person. After all, Mother always taught you to be careful with money, and she always loved good food. It’s a win-win!

Perhaps “Christmas” for Cuckoo’s Nest each year and their customers is Cinco de Mayo, coming up this Sunday. It’s an ongoing celebration from the moment the doors open until they close. Enjoy the five piece Mariachi band, face and body art, a specially decorated wall of flowers to serve as a background for your selfies, delicious specials in addition to the regular menu, drink specials featuring the Nest’s own select tequila, live music in the evening, and nothing but happy people enjoying food and fun.

Planning a party this spring or summer? Whether it’s for graduation, out of town guests, a birthday, or just because, Cuckoo’s Nest has both an indoor and outdoor party space, each seating up to 60 people. Let Eddie or Heather individually tailor a menu for your guests, so you don’t have to cook or clean up and can fully enjoy the fiesta that’s always what Cuckoo’s Nest is about. Come on a Thursday or Sunday and enjoy live music to complement your event.

Chefs Peter and Greg delight in creating specials that change weekly and are posted on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter, so be sure to check them out; and being creative chefs, they also enjoy tweaking their already popular recipes, in Spanish a term known as “retocar.”

Recently the restaurant partnered with Hot Lady, a family and veteran-owned company that produces a very special Sriracha Hot Sauce. Eddie is so impressed with what it does for food and drink, he has incorporated it into many of the restaurant’s offerings, so be sure to give it a try when you’re there.

Consistency. Some restaurants don’t bother with it, they just put out the food and hope people will like it, even though it may not be the same every time their customer dines. Others wish for consistency, but aren’t willing to put in the effort to ensure it. Then there’s Cuckoo’s Nest: consistent in their food preparation, consistent in service, consistent at the bar, at Sunday brunch, and in the party rooms.

Guess that’s why they’ve been around for 43 years and why they’re consistently winning kudos and awards from magazines, newspapers, and food reviewers; however the award that means the most to Eddie, Heather, Mari, and their staff comes from their customers who consistently return for good food, good service, a good drink; and most of all, a good time….every time.

Cuckoo’s Nest: 43 years of “lo mismo.” In Spanish, that’s “the same,” and that’s not bad!

Go have a good time at Cuckoo’s Nest, 1712 Boston Post Road (Rt. 1) in Old Saybrook. (860) 399-9060. Check out their extensive menu and see the upcoming events: www.cuckoosnest.biz