As of about a month ago, the French restaurant, Jean Pierre Cafe, on Oakland was changed to a Mexican restaurant, renamed Juan Pedro?s Cantina. The new name is supposed to describe the cuisine, a Mexican twist on the “old favorites” of the French Café. The restaurant is still under the ownership of John and Anne Nehring, who own Sendiks as well.

From “oui” to “si”, the menu still includes many of the items offered when it was Jean Pierre’s. They have the same omelets and pancakes, but additions such as huevos rancheros have been made. It has the same standard restaurant menu, with breakfast, lunch, and dinner, salads, soups and sandwiches. New Mexican inspired items include burritos, tacos, and enchiladas, the “pommes frites” have changed to “papas fritas.”

Next to the original bakery counter, still stocked with croissants and peanut butter bombs, is the new bar, which the Nehrings installed after they aquired a liquor license.

With an extensive list of mixed drinks like Mojitos and martinis, the bar is another change that has helped the owners reach their goal. Kelly Miller, a Juan Pedro?s and Jean Pierre’s employee, said “The reason why we switched was to improve dinner business. We didn’t get any before.”

The biggest change the restaurant underwent was in the dinner menu, yet there were other motivations to change than just to get more dinner business. “People in the community wanted a Mexican restaurant because there are so many Chinese places,” Miller stated. The Nehrings listened and have tried to diversify the cuisine that Shorewood has to offer.

With a new paint job, some lights, Mexican music, and a piñata, Juan Pedro’s is successful in having a “Mexican influence.” First time customer Justin Monigold, who will be moving in across the street, enjoyed this new style. “The service was good and I really like the atmosphere,” said Monigold.

The biggest curiosity about the new Mexican place has been about it’s confusing name, Juan Pedro?s. The question mark is supposed to show the confusion from the switch from Jean Pierre’s and springs from, as Miller describes, “a little story that’s meant to be sort of cutesy.”

The story, written by the owners, says that Jean Pierre traveled to Mexico to search for his “true family roots,” and on his quest brought back the flavors he found there. He decided to honor his “great-great grandpa, Juan Pedro,” and re-name his restaurant after him.

Though the story is fiction, the Nehrings have really tried to “blend…already popular menu favorites with some exciting new discoveries.” But one thing that hasn’t changed about the eatery is how expensive it is; the omelet is still eight dollars, a side of fries goes for two dollars.