La Posada Restaurant & Tequila Bar, located in Magoun Square, offers a wide variety of Latin-flavored cuisine and the finest selection of tequilas to be found locally. — Photo by Jeffrey Shwom

By Jeffrey Shwom

On a beautiful Thursday afternoon in Magoun Square, in walked the sharply dressed Johe Posada, owner of La Posada. He rode to the restaurant on his motorcycle, with a dark blue blazer and clean-shaven face, and was ready to entertain. I had a chance to speak with Johe about how his business began, the changing concept of La Posada beyond his El Salvadorian roots, and their expansion of outdoor and indoor dining.

In Spanish, la posada means “the inn.” For Johe, it is more personal. “Posada is a family name, my mom’s last name. We (Johe and his sister and co-owner, Yenny Posada) learned to cook with her. She cooked in El Salvador and was involved in church and the school cafeteria. The food was always phenomenal for the school. When she left, the kids asked why she did not continue cooking?”

After his mom taught him, Johe wanted to open his own bar. “The concept came on its own.” It started with Mexican and shout outs to the Brazilian restaurant they bought, Petisco’s, at 505 Medford St, in 2014. Even today though, “as we were adding new plates, we wanted to add food from different places, and not just Mexico. Our beef empanadas are mostly Brazilian. The chicken empanadas are a blend, the skin is the way Brazilians do it and the filling is El Salvadorian.” Johe likes to “put recipes together from one country and then another.”

Then there is the tequila. Initially, “I was inclined to a rum style bar.” After some time, Johe focused on tequila, including getting certified as a Tequila Specialist by the Mexico’s Consejo Regulador De Tequila. “The concept is about fresh ingredients in my drinks and premium tequilas. The goal is that you can choose a tequila next time and you know what you like because you taste it. I carry over 75 tequilas at all times!” The tequila tasting is a more intimate, personal experience. “I take a maximum of ten people. I sit down at a table and show you good food and good tequila for two hours.”

La Posada’s owner and jovial host, Johe Posada, conducting one of his tequila tasting events. — Photo courtesy of La Posada

La Posada’s outdoor dining experience has really heated up their business and the square. Historically, summer was not always the hot time to La Posada. “We used to be busier in the winter than in the summer. As soon as spring came, we saw a lower number of people come in.” Covid changed things – for the better. “During Covid, we had a quarter capacity inside, 10 people (instead of 40). The patio was a game changer. We could spread tables inside and out. Joe Lynch (of the Somerville License Commission) was a great support during this time. I am grateful for that. It helped our concept. We have a tropical theme here. With a patio, what better to have than a tropical drink outside?”

Currently, La Posada has roughly 30 seats outside as well as indoor dining, and they are expanding into the two adjacent spaces on Medford Street. “We think we could be approved any day now to start construction. Demolition was done a while ago so we think we are ready to get things started.”

Johe had time to praise Magoun Square businesses that have opened during his time. “In these 10 years, it has changed a lot. The opening of Tasty Momo, Don Julio coming together, and Big Belly Deli. The square offers a good variety of quality food. I appreciate that. Daddy Jones has delicious Greek. My dad is hooked on the burgers! I have always been a fan of Olde Magoun Saloon and having a beer.”

La Posada Restaurant & Tequila Bar, 505 Medford St, Somerville. Visit laposadasomerville.com.