When I heard that Pepino’s in Bangor changed its location, I didn’t know what to expect. I knew it was time to get out of the small, cramped plaza on Stillwater Avenue, but I didn’t know if Park Street in Downtown Bangor was really the right place to go. When I walked up Park Street and saw the restaurant from the outside it became immediately clear to me- this was the place to go.

From the outside, the restaurant looked spacious, but cozy. There were window seats and beautiful Mexican-styled decorations on the brick walls. “Pepino’s” was written across the many windows. Once I walked in, it only got better.
I was immediately greeted by a waitress who asked me how I was doing. It was so sincere and refreshing compared to walking in, waiting in line and being asked “How many?”
A good friend of mine who is a host brought my party and I to our seat. “Give us the best table in the house,” I joked. “Right this way,” she said with a smirk.
Our table was right by a window which had pillows propped up on it. The view overlooked Downtown Bangor which was beautiful at night. Who would have thought a small city in Maine could light up so bright at night? The lights from the buildings mixed with the stars and moon in the sky. We truly got the best table in the house.

We were introduced to our waitress who was very personable and had a bubbly personality. We were served our waters and ordered our drinks. The prices were reasonable with a lemonade at $2.50 and Margaritas $4.50 a piece. Right after the drinks were served, the salsa and chips were brought out. The salsa is such an important part of a Mexican restaurant because it sets the tone for how your appetizers or meals will be. If you get a bad salsa, you’ll be worried about that entree.

Luckily, this wasn’t the case. The salsa had a tang to it that tasted somewhat peachy and like it had mango in it. With a little more spice, it would have been the perfect salsa.
For the entree, I decided on the “Combination” plate. Being the cheap college student that I am, this is the best bang for your buck. For $11 you get to choose from a variety of combination plates with the addition of either a taco, cheese crisp, nacho, rice, beans or chili. I chose the #2 which was a beef burrito, cheese enchilada and a side of black beans. A side of guacamole for an additional $2.50? Do I even have to ask? Guac is a necessity.
The food came out in no time, which could send some people into a panic. Why was this made so quickly? Did they pop it in the microwave for two minutes and then throw it on a plate? No way.

The food tasted like your mother slaved away in the kitchen all day making it from vegetables in her own garden. It tasted so real. Natural and homemade, every bite was beyond delicious. Looking at the plate, I was somewhat worried that it wouldn’t fill me up. One burrito, one enchilada and a small bowl of beans. Halfway through the burrito, I could barely eat another bite. Somehow, though, I found a way to eat it all.
With the cozy atmosphere and scrumptious food, Pepino’s is better than ever at its new Park Street location.