Carmona’s to celebrate two years

In March, Carmona's Cocina Mexicana in the Suncrest Towne Centre will be celebrating two years of serving Morgantown their homemade Mexican food.

Carmona's is the culinary child of Sal Carmona and Rose Harrison.

The restaurant got its beginning in Buckhannon, W.Va. Carmona and Harrison owned a typical sit-down restaurant in Buckhannon a few years ago, and they served cuisine similar to Morgantown's Carmona's.

The partners chose to sell the Buckhannon business to focus on his health when Carmona was diagnosed with lymphoma.

A pleasant surprise occurred when Carmona's lymphoma went into remission, and the two found they didn't have anything to do without their restaurant.

When they sold Carmona's in Buckhannon, they signed a contract promising not to open a restaurant within a 50-mile radius of Buckhannon.

While at Ruby Memorial Hospital for one of Carmona's lymphoma treatments, they chose to move their restaurant to Morgantown in the Suncrest Towne Centre.

"We are like a ‘Mexican Subway;' the food is fast, but everything is homemade – everything is made here," Harrison said.

They offer familiar Mexican dishes like tacos, burritos and quesadillas, but with their own twist.

All of the recipes used to make Carmona's food were from Harrison's mother.

Some of their signature dishes include a chipotle chicken in a creamy, spicy sauce and pork with chile ancho.

When they say everything is homemade, they mean it.

Carmona's cheese sauce, sour cream, guacamole and pico de gallo are some of the more interesting things they make on site.

Carmona's also offers unique beverages such as Mexican Coke, Mexican Fanta, Jamaica (hibiscus tea) and horchata (rice and cinnamon drink.)

"Not having alcohol hurts, but we feel strongly about it. We are focused on having a safe, family environment," Harrison said. "However, the students are fascinated by the Mexican soda products we have."

Carmona's is open Monday through Saturday.

For more information on Carmona's including hours and a menu, visit their Facebook page or check them out on www.urbanspoon.com.