A local restaurant in Mercer County is getting recognized on a national stage. 

Morelianos, a popular Mexican restaurant, will be hosting a visit from America's Best Restaurants this month.

On April 29th, America's Best Restaurants, a company who focuses on bringing attention to local, independently-owned restaurants, will bring its ABR Roadshow to the restaurant. They join the ranks of several local restaurants that have been featured on the show, including Café 422, Cockeye's BBQ, and Vernon's Cafe.  

During the filming, popular dishes will be featured, along with an interview with owner Alexandra Amado-Bolanos about the restaurant's special place in the community.

Since opening Morelianos in January 2023, Amado-Bolanos and her husband Francisco say the restaurant has been hit in the community. So much so, that the couple opted to shut down their original location in Erie to focus more on the Mercer County location.

"It's been absolutely amazing," she says. "I literally probably have the whole population of Mercer on my Facebook already."

The restaurant features a wide array of authentic family recipes of Mexican specialties, including street tacos with homemade corn tortillas and burritos, enchiladas and quesadillas of all styles. Amado-Bolanos' says her personal favorite menu item is the Pollo Asado, grilled chicken breast cooked with chorizo and served with rice, beans, salad and grilled jalapenos. Chorifries, French fries topped with grilled chorizo and cheese sauce, are a popular appetizer that Amado-Bolanos admits she ate every day for a year.

"Once customers come and try, they say 'We're not eating at another Mexican place ever,'" Amado-Bolanos says.

A Google review of the restaurant from customer Stephanie Coria reflects that sentiment.

"I'm half Mexican, and after living in western PA for one year, this was the first time I felt reconnected with my heritage," Coria wrote. 

Once the episode is filmed, the premiere date will be announced on Facebook and will be featured on America's Best Restaurants' website here.