MANCHESTER, NH – Tucked away at a South Manchester strip Mall, Raíces Authentic Mexican Cuisine, located at 2626 Brown Avenue hums with warmth and color. It opened its doors to diners earlier this year in February.
The restaurant’s Spanish name, Raíces, literally translates into “roots,” and is a pure labor of love that serves generational home recipes to Granite Staters.
“We’ve got very good response from everyone in Manchester and from around the city,” co-owner Arpeet Shah said. “We have customers coming even from different parts of the states, like Maine, Connecticut and all that.”
At the heart of Raíces is Alma Gabriela Trejo, a culinary connoisseur, whose creative soul and mind was behind the conception of the restaurant. Trejo was born in Hidalgo, Mexico, where her love for food was first born.
“Her journey in the kitchen began in her family’s own home, where food was not just nourishment it was a way to connect, celebrate, and express love,” Shah, who referred to Trejo as his “better half,” said.
From curating the menu to creating a warm dining experience—Trejo’s passion shines through every detail at the restaurant, according to Shah. Her vision is to make guests feel like family and transport them to the heart of Mexico, even if it is just for a moment.
Photos/Erika Follansbee Photography
“She’s the one who needs to be credited for this, because she’s the one who designs the menu,” Shah said. “She’s the one who designs the drinks in all the restaurants.”
How the two collaborated on the idea of starting a food business you wonder?
It was love.
The two met in Puerto Rico at a bar, while vacationing in the region. Much like Trejo, Shah, too, always dreamt of opening his own restaurant, and wanted to professionally study culinary arts and hotel management, but couldn’t pursue that due to financial constraints.
Upon meeting Trejo, who was already involved in the food business, Shah was able to make his dreams come true.
“We met each other at the bar, and then we exchanged Instagrams, and then we started talking, and we started dating,” Shah, who has been in the U.S. since 2014, said. “That’s how it happened. I always mentioned to her that I always wanted to open a restaurant. That’s when we started working on the restaurants.
Photos/Erika Follansbee Photography
The two now co-run four restaurants including Raíces. The other two are Vida at the Lake in Meredith, Vida Mexican Restaurant in Laconia and Enso Japanese Steakhouse in Meredith.
Coming to the actual food—Shah says everything is served with one-hundred percent authenticity and brimming with flavors of home cooking.
From fresh tortillas to guacamole at tables, they do everything from scratch.
“You will also see mole which, which takes a lot of time to cook – the sauce takes at least eight to nine hours, or even 10 hours sometimes,” Shah said, highlighting that even for vegetarians such has himself there are options galore, such as the enchilada queretana—a plateful of flavor that includes three corn tortillas filled with cheese topped with a spicy red sauce, served with a side of rice and beans.
Shah says there is one devoted mission for he and Trejo that has led to the success of the restaurant—to put a smile on people’s faces.
“That’s the best thing we can do,” he said.
For any first-timers at his restaurant he has one message.
“Raíces is more than a place to eat. It’s a place to gather. Whether you’re meeting friends for margaritas, celebrating with family, or simply craving real Mexican comfort food, the space wraps around you like a warm hug.”
- Location: 2626 Brown Ave, Manchester, NH. Directions.
- Hours: Sunday–Thursday, 11 a.m.–10 p.m.; Friday–Saturday, 11 a.m.–11 p.m.
- Call: 603-932-2770