A nother of this summer's new restaurants, Ay! Caramba Café, is a small gem at 703 Main St. in Harwich Center. With very few Mexican restaurants nearby, Ay! Caramba Café is a welcome addition to the Town of Harwich.

Ay! Caramba Café is advertised as "a truly Mexican experience." Mendoza takes pride in her restaurant and uses only fresh, authentic ingredients in her recipes.

Whereas other local Mexican restaurants have not been successful, some lasting only one season, Ay! Caramba Café has been a huge success. "I've been quite surprised with the response that I have had, " said Mendoza.

Mendoza believes that her customers appreciate the alternative to the local traditional fare restaurants and appreciate her fresh cooking, evident by the success of the restaurant. "We're fresh. We don't use any processed food and we are vegetarian-conscious. That's what makes a difference in why we are popular," Mendoza said. "There's no reason why Mexican food should give you heartburn!"

One of the most popular dishes is the enchilada, served with a homemade red chili enchilada sauce. Another customer favorite is the flautas, which are flour tortillas filled with chicken and deep fried and served with avocado. The mild, medium, and hot salsa are all homemade.

Ay! Caramba is open seven days a week and serves both lunch and dinner. The average price for a dinner is around $9, and lunch is about $6. The restaurant will remain open year-round but will probably only be open six days a week in the winter months.