What is the history of the building?
El Moro - In the early 20th Century the building housed the El Moro Saloon and in 1906 was the sight ofDurango's most infamous gunfight.
What sets you apart from other restaurants?
El Moro boasts an elevated cuisine that uses ingredients from local farms, ranches and cheese makers.Charcuterie platters, house-made sausages and beautifully adorned large plates that include itemsranging from lamb shank to seared scallops all are part of the culinary program. And lest we forget thebeverages, El Moro offers the most diverse co*cktail program in the Four Corners Region along withartfully selected wines and handcrafted beers. El Moro also offer Brunch on Saturday and Sundayfeaturing Eggs Benedict.
Where did the name of your business come from?
The Name El Moro came from the El Moro Saloon that housed in the same location back in 1906.
What is your most popular dish?
Two items are neck and neck for El Moro's most popular dish; "Ivan the Terrible" is a house-made,hand-cranked bratwurst that comes with purple kraut, house apple mustard, on a Harvest Moon BakeryFrench loaf AND the new "Ramen" Large Plate consisting of house made ramen noodles, 12 hour bonebroth with soy/miso tare, Chashu pork belly, marinated egg, pickled shiitake, and scallion.
Where do you get your inspiration for your menu?
Executive Chef Sean Clark set out to build a "modern rustic" menu that included ingredients that wereprevalent in Durango in the early 20th Century with modern culinary techniques and a farm to tableelement.
Describe your restaurant to someone who has never been there.
El Moro is relaxed dining in an historic setting while offering high standards of service and hospitality.The décor harkens back to the original roots of the building and The El Moro Saloon in the early 1900s.Ask about the bottle of whiskey and shot glass at the top shelf above the bar, which somehow the"ghosts" of the notorious shootout enjoy, and we have to regularly refill.
What has been your business's proudest moment? Awards or accomplishments?
El Moro won the "Spirit of Durango Award" in 2018 from the Durango Chamber of Commerce after afour month closure forced by a water heater fire, during which time we continued to pay the whole staffto volunteer in the community.
What's an interesting fact about your business most people don't know
The El Moro Saloon housed what is the present day El Moro in 1906 and was home to Durango mostinfamous shoot out when Sheriff William J. Thompson was killed by Town Marshall Jesse Stansel. Theargument stemmed from the Sheriff attempting to eliminate gambling in local saloons. Marshall Stanselsurvived and was later acquitted in the killing. An open bottle of whisky is kept on the very top shelf atthe current El Moro’s bar for Sheriff Thompson and must be refilled frequently!
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