After Burger Queen closed, Williston residents pondered what would eventually take its place.

The community now has an authentic Mexican dining facility called Don Pedro's Family Mexican Restaurant. Because the new place has been fairly busy since opening, it seems Williston residents are pleased with the change.

Don Pedro's opened about two months ago after Williston residents waited patiently with its teasing sign, "coming soon." Perhaps some believe it was worth the wait, because the restaurant already has plenty of "regulars," said manager Ricardo Mena.

"They're not like customers, they're like friends to us. We have a lot of regular customers," Mena said, adding he and the employees often see the customers out and about town and stop to talk to them.

Mena, who's had 18 years of experience in the restaurant business, moved to Williston from Utah about three months ago to establish the restaurant. There's seven other Don Pedro's in the nation, with three in Wyoming and four in Utah, Mena said. The owners decided to open a restaurant in Williston because it's a small town with a bright future, Mena said. He declined to name the owners, but said the restaurants are family owned.

"It seemed like they needed one (a Mexican restaurant). It's a nice town that seems like it's growing," Mena said.

Mena, his wife and two daughters, enjoy living in Williston.

"I like it here. It's a really nice town to raise a family," he said.

Don Pedro's is a colorful dining establishment. A variety of artistic pieces adorn the walls -- paintings depicting life in Mexico, blue Toucans hang near the entrance on either side of a painting, a copper sun hangs behind the cash register. Some of the items are from Mexico so the restaurant has a more authentic atmosphere, Mena said.

The restaurant has a full lunch and dinner menu. Lunch options include appetizers like super nachoes, quesadillas and guacamole dip. Soups and salads are offered, as well as a variety of enchiladas and deluxe meals, including Steak A La Mexicana, Chile Verde and Pollo meals (meals with chicken).

Combination meals are popular among customers, Mena said. With that option, customers have a choice between chicken, ground beef or shredded beef and pork, and all combos come with rice and beans.

Combo choices include the two enchilada meal, a chimichanga and two taco meal.

For children 12 years old and under, there's a Little Amigo menu that includes tacos, burritos and chicken tenders.

For people not brave enough to try a Mexican dish, or who simply prefer not to eat Mexican food, there's the All American Dishes that include grilled-cheese sandwiches, hamburgers and chicken sandwiches.

The dinner menu is similar with a few more options. Las Carnes (meat dishes) gives the options of Molcajete, a bowl of chicken and beef strips, sauteed in a mild spicy sauce with mushrooms, onions and tomatoes topped with cheese; and Steak Picoso, strips of sirloin, stir-fried with onions, pepper and garlic in a hot, spicy sauce.

Dinner also offers a Los Mariscos (seafood dishes) option with a Seafood Chimichanga, a tortilla stuffed with crab meat, shrimp, red snapper and scallops, deep-fried with a cream sauce; and Seafood Burrito, a soft tortilla filled with crab meat, shrimp, red snapper and scallops, covered with a cream sauce.

The Pollo (chicken dishes) for dinner include Garden Chicken, strips of chicken breast and vegetables with the restaurant's own ranchera sauce; and Pollo a la Crema, strips of chicken breast cooked in cream sauce with mushrooms.

Like the lunch menu, the dinner menu also offers combo meals, appetizers, egg dishes, the Little Amigo option for the youngsters and All American Dishes. Desserts for lunch and dinner include deep-fried ice cream, vanilla flan and churros.

Drinks include soda, lemonade, tea, Mexican pop and non-alcoholic pina coladas. Mena said he's had requests from customers asking for alcoholic beverages, and the restaurant is working on getting a liquor license.

Chef Marciano Lopez is sure to please the customers, having more than 30 years of experience in his trade, Mena said. Lopez moved to Williston from Seattle, he said.

"He's a really good cook. For sure, he knows what he's doing," Mena said.

Mena is satisfied not only with the success the restaurant is seeing in Williston, but also with its prominent location on Million Dollar Way.

"It's one of the busiest intersections. We couldn't ask for a better spot," he said.

The future may hold the promise of adding Don Pedro's restaurants in other towns near Williston.

"We like the atmosphere here in North Dakota," Mena said.

The exterior of the restaurant continues to be remodeled and should be completed in the near future.

Don Pedro's is open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day. Lunch is served from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and dinner is served from 3-10 p.m. Monday through Friday. Dinner is served all day Saturday and Sunday. Takeout is available.

The restaurant is at 2516 2nd Ave. W. and the telephone number is 701-774-1151.