Julio and Cindy Ramirez opened their restaurant in 1991. Julio has been in the restaurant business since he arrived in the states in the early ‘70’s from his native Ecuador. He began his career in a Chicago hotel bussing tables and later became a waiter, maitre d’ and restaurant manager. His passion for cooking started at an early age by helping his mother prepare meals for their large family. His appreciation for his native culture and good food, plus his desire to share them, have come together in a warm and gracious setting known as “Julio’s Cocina Latina”.

His wife, Cindy has also been in the restaurant business for a nearly 30 years. Her exposure to the industry stemmed from her first love: music. She began as a singing cocktail waitress doing three shows a night for the Gaslight Club. After meeting Julio, their goal to own a restaurant became a constant and finally after three years of searching for a location, they opened their restaurant and the rest is history.