Closed Maine Mexican Restaurant Accused of Not Paying Employees

According to an article on the WGME website, a former Cape Elizabeth, Maine restaurant is facing allegations that it failed to pay some of its employees.

The article explains that a representative for the Maine Department of Labor says the former Tacos y Tequila on Ocean House Road received a citation letter in April after an investigation into the business's payroll practices.

State officials say the restaurant owes approximately $19,000 in unpaid wages to employees.  In addition to the back wages, the business has been assessed roughly $9,000 in penalties payable to the state.

The Department of Labor issues citations when it determines an employer has violated Maine's wage and hour laws.  The unpaid wages are intended to compensate affected employees, while the fines are separate civil penalties.

It is unclear how many employees were impacted or whether the outstanding wages and penalties have since been paid.

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No additional information about the case has been released.

According to an article in the Portland Press Herald, the restaurant opened in 2021 and closed permanently in January of 2026.  The article explains that the restaurant had been opened by a man named Ramiro Bravo, who reportedly also owns several restaurants in Pennsylvania.