DINING TASTE
Authentic Family Experience
E
By Tom Worgo Photography by Stephen Buchanan
ven in an industry in which family-run business are common, the Serrano family’s restaurant, Jalapenos, stands out like few others. Nine family members are involved in the day-to-day operations. Jalapenos manager Zaneli Serrano calls it “Rare and unique.”
Owner Alberto Serrano has established the restaurant, which serves Mexican and Spanish cuisine, as one of Annapolis most respected. He opened the establishment in 1999 along with Gonzalo Fernandez and became sole owner in January of 2018. Alberto takes a lot of pride in the smooth operation of the kitchen. Alberto’s brother’s Obed is the executive chef, his other brother, Azael Serrano Hernandez, is a line cook, his wife Isabel is a prep cook, and cousin Lucino is the souschef. “Everybody lives for this place,” Alberto says. The restaurant offers a large and varied menu. Customer favorites include the sirloin steak, salmon appetizer, Gambas Al Ajillo (a shrimp dish), and in-house made sangria.
JALAPEÑOS 85 Forest Drive, Annapolis 410-266-7580 jalapenosonline.com We recently talked to Zaneli and Alberto about working with all the family members, what makes Jalapenos standout from the competition, and popular dishes.
different kinds of sauces. They are made from scratch. You won’t go wrong with choosing an item, whether you are vegetarian, a meat lover, or a seafood lover.
Zaneli, what are the positives and negatives about having so many family members here?
We serve Spanish-Mexican cuisine, but we don’t serve the typical Tex-Mex. We have more of a variety on our menu. We do offer fajitas and enchiladas, but there are plenty of other dishes here people can choose from.
We all pitch in. We are able to manage and stay flexible if there is a problem. We have been in this restaurant since the beginning so we can do everything. If there is something my father can’t do, we can do it for him or make the decisions or solve the problem. But sometimes, we all don’t see eye to eye. When we don’t, we all put in our opinions. What sets your menu apart? We have such a variety of dishes and we have all the 146
What’s Up? Annapolis | November 2020 | whatsupmag.com
Alberto, you have many loyal customers. What keeps them from coming back? The customers come and they feel like they are at home. They really feel welcomed here. We treat people with respect. We know what they like. We have a lot of people who have been com-
