Pico De Gallo

MTC Inc. is a family-owned company consisting primarily of three restaurants located in the historic Market Square area. The Cortez Family of Restaurants include Mi Tierra Café y Panaderia with its adjacent Mariachi Bar, La Margarita Restaurant & Marisco Bar and Restaurante Pico de Gallo. The Company, which was founded in 1941 by Pete and Cruz Cortez when they opened the Jamaica Café – a small three-table restaurant with a seating capacity of 12-15 persons. Pete Cortez born in Guadalajara, Jalisco had immigrated to San Antonio, Texas to assist an uncle and aunt who were operating a grocery store and meat market near the Market Square area. The Jamaica offered a variety of authentic Mexican foods as well as American dishes. In 1951 they purchased the Toyo Café, a restaurant with the seating capacity of 60 persons renamed it Mi Tierra Café. During the same decade a bakery was added and seating increased to 120 persons. Mi Tierra Café y Panaderia, the anchor of the family restaurants and an established institutional landmark located in the heart of Mexican Square, today continues specializing in authentic Mexican dishes, pastries and candies. The restaurant is also known as the Home of Mexican Troubadours – a tradition that continues in this very cultural city of San Antonio. Restaurante Pico de Gallo (formerly known as La Carreta Mexican Steak House) which opened in 1979 and is located two blocks west of Mi Tierra, has developed into a popular spot for the locals and is famous for its Parrilladas (assorted charbroiled meats), La Margarita Restaurant & Oyster Bar, founded in 1981. with its New Orleans atmosphere and outdoor patios. La Margarita is well known as the originator of the sizzling fajitas and the delicious tequila drinks for which it was named. The Mariachi Bar was added to Mi Tierra Café in 1989 and proven to be very successful addition – with its beautiful custom-made bar – a cultural ambiance and elegance that makes it a very popular location fo