[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 82 (Wednesday, May 17, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1063]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                     ONE OF NEW YORK'S BEST--EL OLE

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                        HON. NYDIA M. VELAZQUEZ

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Wednesday, May 17, 1995
  Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of one of New 
York's best and most vibrant dining establishments. I am referring to 
El Ole. It is New York's very own bit of Spain, and it celebrates 25 
years of exemplary service this Monday, May 22.
  The owners of this fabulous restaurant, Pepe and Tony Lagares arrived 
in the United States back in 1949. They came here from La Coruna, 
Spain, with their father, Don Jose. They spent their first years in 
this country working at their grandfather's restaurant, Greenwich 
Village's El Tropezon. In 1970, they opened El Ole, and for years 
worked at a grovelling pace. El Ole's reputation spread by word of 
mouth, and it soon built up a strong clientele. In fact, when El Ole 
opened its doors for the first time, it could only accommodate 28 
patrons. Today, it serves many well known guests on a regular basis, 
and its exquisite dinning room accommodates 110.
  Among the many distinguished patrons of El Ole are: Sylvester 
Stallone, Elizabeth Taylor, Al Pacino, Emilio Estevez, Robert DeNiro, 
Martin Lawrence, Jon Secada, Jane Evans, Pedro Morales, Jose Chegui 
Torres, Roberto Ledesma, and former Governor Cuomo and his family. This 
impressive list comes as no surprise. El Ole has an atmosphere that 
lends itself to fine dinning and pure enjoyment. But it is much more 
than a restaurant, it is a refuge for people of all cultures, and its 
walls have witnessed countless conversations on everything from 
politics to the arts.
  From the romantic sounds of Spanish guitars to the fast swing-pace of 
salsa, cumbia, and merenge, El Ole's superb service and vibrant setting 
serve as perfect complement to this establishment's world class menu.
  I applaud the Lagares brothers for their efforts, and thank them for 
bringing us so much. To El Ole, a happy celebration, may its tables 
always bear las Delicias de la madre Espana, and may its door always 
rest open for those who share a passion for culinary pleasure and a 
thirst for the joy of life. Ole!


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