PANCHO’S HISTORY

From our humble roots selling tacos and burritos on paper plates across a counter in Cedarhurst, Pancho’s has grown to be Nassau County’s favorite destination for quality Tex-Mex food and drink served fresh in any of our three convenient locations.

Founders Gary and Stephen Steiner were living in Colorado in the late 70’s. Having grown up on Long Island in a restaurant family (their father founded and owned Al Steiner’s, one of Long Island’s most famous steakhouses), the brothers realized the popularity of the Mexican food they experienced in Colorado and the opportunity to bring it back home, so they decided to return to New York to open the original Pancho’s and have been doing what they do best ever since.

Once opened, Gary furthered his restaurant education by attending the Culinary Institute of America while Stephen ran the shop. After spending nearly 10 years serving our version of freshly prepared “fast food” (The original Pancho’s opened 6 months before the first Taco Bell on Long Island!), the brothers decided to branch out into two full service Tex-Mex restaurants. Stephen moved upstate to Hunter Mountain New York and opened Tequillas, while Gary moved the original Pancho’s to Oceanside and opened Pancho’s Cantina, where we began offering our famous Fajitas and Margaritas as well as all of our delicious barbeque items.

Within two years, business was booming. Gary hired Jeff Moss, fresh out of Cornell University to become his first manager, and expanded the restaurant to offer more seating. Dave Neyman was the General Manager for the local Pizzeria Uno’s and a very loyal Pancho’s customer. Pretty soon, Gary, Jeff and Dave teamed up and opened a second location in Great Neck, Pancho’s Border Grill (1991). It was an immediate success and remains a Great Neck institution.

In 1994, Pancho’s Cantina needed more space again and moved to our current home in Island Park. Eventually we wanted all of Long Island to experience Pancho’s delicious Tex-Mex food and have been serving our loyal followers the finest Tex-Mex this side of Colorado River ever since.