When Las Lomas Fresh Mexican Grille closed its doors in April of 2020 to relocate to Sea Isle City, Marquez Amador—a cook at that restaurant—saw the opportunity to fulfill a lifelong dream.
“I came here in January 2009. I came to work at Las Lomas Grille and stayed in Hammonton ... Like any American dream, I came over wanting to have my own restaurant,” Amador said, with the help of translator Neida Aguilar.
Amador was able to realize that dream, and, on October 21, 2020, he opened Marquez Mexican Grill.
Originally from Guadalajara, the capital city of Jalisco, Mexico, Amador said that he has been around the food industry from a young age, learning from family members.
“My whole family before me—my dad, my uncles—they all owned a meat shop, a butcher. I used to do it, too. From there, I started my love for cooking and doing all these things,” Amador said through a translator.
Amador’s experience soon grew beyond the family business. Before journeying to the United States, he worked in Sirloin Stockade, a family-style buffet restaurant in Guadalajara.
Amador also expanded his culinary skills after his arrival in Hammonton.
“I’ve worked at most of the restaurants here in Hammonton, and I love cooking,” Amador said through a translator.
Now, with Marquez Mexican Grill, Amador was able to use that wealth of experience to craft a menu that reflects both his own personal style of cooking and the cuisine from his home in Mexico.
“I wanted my own place, my own unique place. My goal is to get meats that only I know how to cut and offer that to the public, special kinds of thin, thin meats and things like that. My seasoning is a specialty from Guadalajara,” Amador said through a translator.
Amador noted that he hopes that his love of the craft will give residents something to remember.
“My reason for opening the restaurant is because I love cooking, and because I want everyone to know Marquez: the name, the food and the seasoning. I want to give that to the people of Hammonton,” Amador said through a translator.
Amador said that he plans for his restaurant to remain in Hammonton for a long time to come.
He also expressed his hopes for its future, as well as the direction in which he would like to take Marquez Mexican Grill.
“I want to evolve this restaurant to an authentic Mexican restaurant, and not lose that seasoning. I want this restaurant to be authentic from where I’m from, which is Jalisco. I want this restaurant to keep having my tacos, because I have a special seasoning for that, and, besides the tacos, I want gourmet food here. That’s my specialty, and my hopes for the restaurant,” Amador said through a translator.
Amador said that Marquez Mexican Grill should have something to please everyone in Hammonton.
“We have good service here. We’re open every single day, from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. The food is authentic from Jalisco. I hope that everyone will come and visit the restaurant to try it out and see if they like it,” Amador said through a translator.
Marquez Mexican Grill is located at 8 Railroad Ave.
For more information, call (609) 666-5687 or visit them on Instagram at @marquezmexicangrill.