A Look Into Luna Y Sol Cantina, Opening Soon in Austell

Luna Y Sol Cantina is preparing to open soon in Austell, Georgia, according to owners and husband-and-wife team Jesus Lagunas Villanueva and Liz Murillo Sandoval. The couple has spent years working in the restaurant industry for family members, but ultimately decided it was time to build something of their own.

In April 2024, they launched Luna Y Sol as a pop-up and catering business. Liz shared with Business Debut that their first pop-up was found through Facebook. After paying the vendor fee, they assembled what she described as their “most rustic-looking setup yet” and broke even. From there, the brand began to take shape.

The couple originally sought to open a brick-and-mortar location in Douglasville that ultimately fell through. Still, the process led them to their current space: the former La Salsa restaurant at 2856 Veterans Memorial Hwy SW, Austell, GA 30168, where they are now preparing for a mid-to-late May opening.

Luna Y Sol Cantina will be a full-service restaurant and bar, offering distinct lunch and dinner menus Tuesday through Sunday. The space will seat 106 guests across four main zones: a patio, a main dining room, a bar, and a cocktail area. A smaller section of the dining room, set aside for private parties and events, will also host seasonal tastings and events.

Drawing on their experiences working in Tex-Mex establishments, Liz and Jesus noticed a recurring customer request for authentic dishes. That desire inspired them to focus on true, homestyle Mexican cuisine at Luna Y Sol Cantina. Many of the recipes come from Jesus’ mother, who will serve as the restaurant’s head chef and who remains a key influence on the entire concept.

One goal is to showcase often-overlooked aspects of Mexican cooking, including its wealth of vegetarian options. On the bar side, Jesus, a trained bartender, is designing a mixology program featuring house-made syrups, infusions, and adventurous cocktails with a focus on mezcal and tequila. Classic favorites will also be available.

Jesus and Liz shared that launching a brand from scratch has brought new and difficult challenges. Shifting from floor service to administrative work, managing paperwork, and navigating the hurdles of opening a business were major learning curves.

Liz noted the emotionally taxing side of entrepreneurship as well, describing moments of doubt and feeling as though they were not up for the challenge. Despite the uncertainty, Luna Y Sol Cantina is set to open later this month.

Hours will be 11 am – 9 pm on weekdays and 11 am – 10 pm on weekends, with the potential for weekend brunches. Catering and event bookings will also be available.

Follow their progress on Facebook and Instagram.