T-R PHOTOS BY SARA JORDAN-HEINTZRoger Ibarra of Marshalltown will open Mariscos El Capitan 2 on June 4, located at 903 W. Lincoln Way. It will have the same menu as his Des Moines location (pictured).Below: The El Capitan dish can be made mild or spicy and consists of a whole fried fish, clams, blue mussels, green mussels and jumbo shrimp.
Rogelio “Roger” Ibarra of Marshalltown has worked in restaurants since he was 15 years old. In late 2016, he opened Mi Ranchito, serving up Mexican and Italian dishes. In 2022, he sold his share of the business and set out for Des Moines, launching his own place called Mariscos El Capitan. Thanks to the success of that endeavor, Mariscos El Capitan 2 will have its grand opening June 4 from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
The location, 903 W. Lincoln Way, has seen its share of establishments come and go over the past several years.
“I already have a lot of customers that love what I do. I have a lot of customers that drive to Des Moines just to come see me now. So coming back to Marshalltown, you have no idea how many calls I’ve gotten about when we’re going to open — the excitement on social media — makes me feel confident that we’re going to do well in Marshalltown as well,” he said.
Ibarra, a native of Villachuato, Mexico, came to Marshalltown with his family in 1999 and still calls the city home.
He classifies his offerings as “unusual, extravagant, something you normally wouldn’t find at a typical Mexican restaurant…As Hispanics, we love seafood. I wanted to bring that concept to Iowa.”
The El Capitan dish can be made mild or spicy and consists of a whole fried fish, clams, blue mussels, green mussels and jumbo shrimp.
The menu at his Marshalltown locale will be the same as the one located at 2809 Sixth Avenue in Des Moines, but will have an even larger kids’ menu — plus expanded lunch offerings, running from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday through Friday.
Seafood platters and towers meant for sharing (or maybe not) are packed with a variety of fish, shrimp, grilled vegetables and sauces. Molcajetes are served in a volcanic stone bowl. He said the El Capitan is popular, consisting of a whole fish, clams, blue mussels, green mussels and jumbo shrimp.
The shrimp boil teams jumbo shrimp, peeled shrimp, potatoes and corn in a special sauce. Fish you’ll find on the menu include red snapper and tilapia, served a variety of ways, plus enjoy fresh oysters, prawns, crab legs, bacon-wrapped shrimp, and more.
Seafood soups are available, as well as ceviche (raw seafood marinated in citrus juice and spices), salads, seafood empanadas, and pineapples stuffed with seafood, cheeses and grilled veggies. A whole octopus can be ordered, marinated in a sauce and grilled on an open fire. Parrilladas contain a variety of meats that are grilled or barbecued. Not just shrimp can be ordered co*cktail-style. Others are made with fish ceviche, octopus and oysters.
Non-seafood lovers can enjoy grilled chicken and steak, plus traditional items including tacos, burritos, quesadillas, fajitas and chimichangas. Sauces and salsas (both mild and spicy) are made in-house. Appetizers include shrimp, ceviche and non-seafood favorites such as boneless and traditional wings, dips and mozzarella sticks.
Items on the menu include the seafood chimichanga, left, and the Ceviche Mixto, right.
“Our main focus, and what we’re known for, are our seafood dishes, but we have something for everyone,” he added.
Dishes can be modified to accommodate your spice preference.
While Ibarra offers customers a full-bar experience, he said a beverage people favor is called Cantaritos, a mixed drink made up of tequila, Squirt, orange and lime juices, served in a clay pot.
Dessert includes: cheesecake, brownies, chocolate cake, fried ice cream and Xangos (fried Mexican cheesecake chimichangas).
He offers live entertainment on the weekends at both locations, plus the Marshalltown restaurant has a small patio for outdoor dining.
Looking to the future, Ibarra would like to find a bigger space for his Des Moines eatery. Otherwise, he plans to keep it to the two restaurants for now.
“We’re just very, very excited to come back to Marshalltown. Marshalltown has always been where I grew up. I have a lot of family and people that I’ve networked with over the years there. That’s why I feel that I have that support from everyone in Marshalltown. We’re very, very excited to come back and show people what I’ve learned in the last two years in Des Moines and bring that concept back to Marshalltown.”
Mariscos El Capitan 2 will be open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. It may be reached at: 641-751-9449 and rogelioibarra9@gmail.com.
- T-R PHOTOS BY SARA JORDAN-HEINTZRoger Ibarra of Marshalltown will open Mariscos El Capitan 2 on June 4, located at 903 W. Lincoln Way. It will have the same menu as his Des Moines location (pictured).Below: The El Capitan dish can be made mild or spicy and consists of a whole fried fish, clams, blue mussels, green mussels and jumbo shrimp.
- The El Capitan dish can be made mild or spicy and consists of a whole fried fish, clams, blue mussels, green mussels and jumbo shrimp.
- Items on the menu include the seafood chimichanga, left, and the Ceviche Mixto, right.
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