We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Heriberto Gomez. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Heriberto below.

Heriberto, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Risking taking is a huge part of most people’s story but too often society overlooks those risks and only focuses on where you are today. Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – it could be a big risk or a small one – but walk us through the backstory.

Almost 30 years ago, I was managing a small restaurant in Palatine, IL, when the owner offered me the opportunity to buy the business from him. I was scared since I had never owned a business before, but I decided to take the chance. It wasn’t always a smooth road after that, but looking back now, I’m proud of what I’ve been able to build from that decision — and I would do it all over again.

Heriberto, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

My name is Heriberto Gomez, owner of Orale Restaurant Group. We have locations in Elgin, Roselle, Bartlett, and Palatine, focusing on Mexican cuisine. Across all our concepts, we make sure two things are never missing: excellent service and great food.

What makes our restaurants unique is our commitment to innovation. Yes, we serve traditional Mexican food, but we’re also not afraid to create dishes that may not be considered fully traditional. Our customers appreciate the creativity we bring to both our dishes and our drinks.

We’d love to hear about how you keep in touch with clients.

First, surround yourself with the right staff — people who care about the business as much as you do. Make sure they are well taken care of, because when your team feels happy and comfortable in their work environment, that positivity is reflected in how they treat your guests.

Remembering a customer’s name, favorite drink, or the last conversation you had with them is what turns an ordinary restaurant visit into a unique experience. We make sure our customers feel at home — comfortable enough to share their stories and become part of our family. Sharing a bit of our Mexican culture with them is what makes their experience special. That’s why so many of our customers remain loyal, keep coming back, and even bring new people with them.

We’d love to hear your thoughts about selling platforms like Amazon/Etsy vs selling on your own site.

We have our own online ordering portal, but we also use third-party platforms such as Uber Eats and DoorDash. One of the main advantages of working with these platforms is their wide reach — they allow us to connect with new customers we might not reach otherwise. They also give us access to their customer base, helping us promote our business to a larger audience.

Of course, there are some downsides, such as the high commission fees these platforms charge. However, we view that as an investment and focus on ensuring those customers have a great experience so that next time, they choose to order directly from us. Another challenge is that sometimes couriers don’t handle the products with the same care we do, which can affect the quality of the experience when the order reaches the customer.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.oralegroup.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oralegroup/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SammysMexicanGrillElgin/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@oralerestaurantgroup2069

Image Credits

Emmory Castelan