Mariposa Taqueria Opens in Danbury from The Folks That Brought you Mezon

For the four Reyes brothers, the butterfly is a symbol that pays homage to their mother, representing her strength and signifying a rebirth. In the midst of the restaurant industry’s toughest times, Javier Reyes says such a symbol is what we need most. That’s why he and his family have closed the doors of their popular Mezon Tapas Bar & Restaurant, and have opened a new Latin restaurant in Danbury. Fittingly, they’ve named it the Spanish word for butterfly, “mariposa”,  that embodies the boldness of their mother.

With 28 years of experience in restaurants, the Reyes’ are seasoned members of the local food industry. The brothers grew up in the kitchen of their family owned deli, Amigos Deli, in Danbury. When Javier was beginning college, his two older brothers opened Mezon, which became a hit for its hospitable atmosphere and small plates. After 9 successful years in business, the Reyes’ closed Mezon’s doors with the desire to begin a new chapter. Now, they’re bringing a reinvented concept to town with Mariposa’s Taqueria, which Javier says is an opportunity for him and his younger brother to open up a restaurant of their own.

With a focus on Latin home cooking, Mariposa features a delicious mix of tacos and interpretations of specialty dishes from their childhood. Their classic bites range from chicken-filled arepas and empanadas to carne asada and roasted pork tacos. On the cocktail side of things, they’re serving up favorites like sangria, mojitos, and margaritas. And, for dessert, they’ll satisfy your sweet tooth with an assortment of churros. Arguably their most special section, however, is their “Mama’s Meats” portion of entrees, a part of their menu that the brothers have dedicated to their mother. 

“The goal of this restaurant was to provide something of value, fun, and excitement to the community, while still staying true to our Latin roots,” Javier said. “We were fortunate to grow up eating home cooked meals everyday and we wanted to give that back to our community.”

While paying tribute to their Domincan side with the food itself, Javier highlighted the importance of replicating the atmosphere of a Latin home in his restaurant. For the Reyes’, visiting family growing up translated to being welcomed with open arms and full plates. Today, they hope to demonstrate this within Mariposa and make their customers feel right at home.

“We wanted to represent the environment we grew up in,” Javier said. “There was always a feeling of warmth and being welcomed. We look forward to being able to do that to the community once things normalize a bit.”

Sure, the pandemic may be limiting our abilities to actually savor Latin American culture in person. Fortunately, the Mariposa team has you covered. You won’t need a plane ticket to experience incomparable hospitality with a delicious taco in one hand and a refreshing margarita in the other. All you’ll need is a quick trip to 56 Mill Plain Road in Danbury. 

“We want to be a part of transporting you to a Latin country or Caribbean island when you walk into our space,” Javier said. “We want you to feel as if you're on vacation, take all the worries away, and enjoy the moment for what is.”

Check out Mariposa’s full menu on their website

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Mariposa 56 Mill Plain Road, Danbury