Nov. 21, 2024

Casa del Rey returns to Sioux Falls next week.

Opening day will be Monday, Nov. 25, for the Mexican restaurant at 901 W. Russell St., which closed in July after serving Sioux Falls since 1980.

Owner Cory O’Brien then quickly sold the business to longtime restaurant owner Janet Eining and her family.

After beginning to make some changes, mainly to the kitchen, the family kept finding other areas to adjust, “and finally we decided we’re going to change everything we want, delay the opening a month, but it will be 10 times worth it in the long run,” said Tate Eining, Janet’s son and a co-owner along with his sister Kibbi McCormick and her sister Beth Cogley. Among them, the family also owns and operates The Original Pancake House and Josiah’s Coffeehouse, Cafe & Bakery.

Customers are “definitely going to notice a difference, but we did keep everything Casa del Rey-themed,” he continued. “Everything is lighter, it’s brighter, all new light fixtures, all new lights on the bar side.”

New artwork inside and new exterior signage also will be arriving in the coming weeks.

The layout of the restaurant “is very similar to before,” Eining said, and the signature menu items remain. The menu itself was broadened to include lunch and dinner and eventually will return to offering a Sunday brunch, he said.

“For the first two weeks, we’re going to run a condensed menu just to make sure we have everything on point,” Eining said. “Our executive chef has knocked our new items out of the ballpark, so I’m excited for everyone to try those.”

Here’s a look at the initial menu:

The full menu likely will be available after the first few weeks.

“We added more appetizers and entrees and changed up some of the dessert menu,” Eining said. “Any of those staples Casa del Rey was known for are still going to be on the menu, and any ingredients that changed only enhance the flavor that was already there.”

A happy hour will be offered weekdays with different daily specials.

Several more staff members were added, including to support longer hours, he said.

“And with the anticipation of how busy we’re going to be, naturally we needed quite a bit more staff,” he continued, adding that the restaurant is still hiring, especially for bartenders.

The appetite from the community to return to the longtime Sioux Falls restaurant has been “phenomenal,” Eining said.

“It’s something we have never experienced in any of our restaurants to this magnitude. There’s always hype and excitement around new restaurants, but this has been incredible.”

Hours will be 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday.