MANSFIELD — Gigi Berber promises strong, quality margaritas at her restaurants.
“You might get watered down margaritas at happy hours, but you don’t have to worry about that here,” she said with a smile. “We give you the best tasting margaritas with great tequila.”
Gigi, her husband Hector and about 20 staff members celebrated the opening of Gigi’s Tacos and Margaritas on Wednesday.
The owners of Tacos and Margaritas at 228 Lexington Ave. expanded into the former Chris’s Bar & Grill between Mansfield and Ontario.
Gigi Berber said the family will operate both locations. The 1111 W. 4th St. location can hold up to 150 people, while the Lexington Avenue restaurant is limited to 44.
Gigi’s Tacos and Margaritas also includes a Fiesta Room that can host up to 50 people for private events.
“It doesn’t cost extra, just call us and make sure it’s available, and you can make a reservation,” she said. “There’s a speaker in there, and TVs so you can play your own music. We can seat up to 50 people there.”
Gigi’s Tacos and Margaritas serves tacos, quesadillas, soups and salads. It also has a kids menu and traditional Mexican desserts.
“We plan to change the menu a little bit for the summertime as well,” Berber said. “Just to have something refreshing for summer.”
5th Ward Mansfield City Councilman Aurelio Diaz thanked the Berbers for their investment in the city at Wednesday’s grand opening.
“This is just a great place to contribute to our diverse community, building a strong Latino and Spanish community,” he said. “They serve great food, and no one works harder than Gigi.”
Owners plan salsa dancing & live music events
Mayor Jodie Perry said the City of Mansfield is happy to support Gigi’s Tacos and Margaritas through its small business loan fund.
“Gigi has been a tremendous part of the community,” Perry said. “I’m really excited to see this building come to life again.”
Berber said she is organizing weekly Friday night salsa dancing at the restaurant.
“We come from Chicago, and everyone works so hard, just like here, that you need something to relax,” she said. “One of the types of music I love is Mexican salsa dancing. It’s a lot of fun, family-friendly and good for all ages.”
Berber also said she plans to host musicians on the restaurant’s patio once a month in the summer.
The Berbers moved to Mansfield in 2021 to open their first restaurant. They are also co-owners of La Mexicana Market on Lexington Avenue.
Gigi thanked the Richland County community for its support of the family’s businesses.
“Everyone I see here today, I can call friends,” she said. “Part of my family and my husband’s family live in Columbus, and I missed them a lot when we moved here.
“We found a great opportunity in Mansfield, and three years later, I want to say thank you. We’ve not only found a place to put our business, but we’ve also found family friends.”
Gigi’s Tacos and Margaritas is open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday and Monday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
It is located at 1111 W. 4th St between Gionino’s Pizzeria and Black Belt Pro Fitness.
The restaurant is also on Facebook and can be reached at 419-775-7187.