Cenote (say-NOH-tay)

Our History

Cenote literally means sink hole. One might ask, why would anyone name a restaurant sinkhole grill?

The Natural Wonder

The natural wonders of the state of Yucatan, cenotes, or underground rivers, are sources of plentiful crystalline water which have fulfilled men's needs throughout the centuries and can be found only in Florida, the Yucatan Peninsula and the island of Cuba... These unique places are now included in the ever increasing number of tourist attractions of the area, both for the archaeological value they offer, as in the cases of Chichen Itza and Dzibilchaltun, and for the exquisite natural beauty they possess, as found at the Dzitnup cenote near Valladolid.

So, as you see, cenotes are more than just sink holes. They were and still are an important part of the Yucatan culture.

Getting Out of the Hole

The second reason comes from being longtime restaurant employees, and the risk and cost associated with starting such a venture. We considered all of the difficulties associated with getting a restaurant 'out of the hole', and decided to interject some humor into our name by calling it a sinkhole.

The Dream

The third and most important reason was my passion for the restaurant business, my love of cooking and our love of Mexican cuisine. My dream has always been to open my own restaurant and provide healthy flavorful Mexican fare. So, following our last trip south and a few too many cocktails, we decided to follow the dream and name it after the natural wonders known as cenotes.

22 Years & Counting

We opened in June of 2004 and recently celebrated our 22nd anniversary. We survived the construction phase, the first year rollercoaster and the birth of our two boys, the first coming just two months after opening... We have come to know and love so many people over the years and consider our employees and regulars like family. We appreciate all of the support we have received and look forward to the years to come.