Del Fuego, Babylon Tex-Mex eatery, gets Western rebrand

A downtown Babylon Tex-Mex eatery is heading west, at least in spirit.

Del Fuego, which has served fajitas, quesadillas and margaritas since 2013 will temporarily close after dinner on March 15 for a rebrand. Next month, patrons can return to that very spot — 117 Deer Park Ave. — to dine at Tejanos Tex-Mex Cantina, Leo DeNicola, Del Fuego’s general manager turned Tejanos co-owner, told Newsday in a Thursday evening telephone interview.

While the menu has not been finalized, DeNicola teased tacos, burritos and more Tex-Mex fare whipped up by the kitchen staff he currently oversees.

"We’re still going to go with a lot of the Tex-Mex favorites and flavors ... but going a little more Western and Texas-style on the decor," DeNicola, 31, of Brightwaters, said. "We’re updating our cocktail program — still with a heavy emphasis on margaritas — but we will have bourbon drinks in there as well and go a little more whiskey-forward."

DeNicola’s father, also Leo, and his uncle, Joe, founded the Del Fuego restaurants. Their premiere eatery, the St. James location, opened in 2011. Babylon followed in 2013. The brothers’ first Del Fuego, as well as their East Northport and Patchogue locations, are remaining unchanged, DeNicola said.

Tejanos marks DeNicola’s first taste of owning a restaurant, a responsibility he said "feels great" to someone who "grew up in" the family business. After rising through the ranks of waiter, bartender and manager at the Babylon eatery, he said he and his family decided the time was now for "a new beginning."

"Babylon has supported our family restaurant for many years, and we’re grateful for that," DeNicola said. "It feels good to ... put something together as a father-and-son duo and see what more we can bring to the community."