confirmed the closure, stating: "Esparza's will be temporarily closed while renovating and regrouping. Thank you for your patience. We will re-open soon." However, several days later, the owners confirmed the restaurant's permanent closure, posting a note that said: "We have closed our business after 24 years. We would like to thank you for supporting us. We have enjoyed the friendships made over the years. We are starting a new chapter in our lives – relaxing and enjoying life. Thank you for your support." The Oregonian published an article containing memories of the restaurant submitted by readers. Esparza's was replaced by The Blue Goose (which later became known as simply The Goose), a "Southwestern-grill-meets-New-Mexico" restaurant serving Mexican and Tex-Mex cuisine, named after the neighborhood tavern of similar title that occupied the building. Reception The restaurant received a mostly positive reception, including "glowing" reviews in Bon Appétit and The New York Times. In 1992, Esparza's was named The Oregonian "Restaurant of the Year". According to the paper, the restaurant played an important role in developing NE and SE 28th Avenue as a food destination. Portland Monthly called the food "so-so", but noted its menu, outdoor patio and jukebox, encouraging people to "bask in the indecipherable harmonies of norteño polka crackling from the vintage vinyl-and-neon Wurlitzer". Esparza's was highlighted in numerous travel guides of Portland. Fodor's published, "Be prepared for south-of-the-border craziness at this beloved local eatery. Wild West kitsch festoons the walls, but it isn't any wilder than some of the entrées that emerge from chef-owner Joe Esparza's kitchen." In her book Insiders' Guide to Portland, Oregon, Rachel Dresbeck called the menu "spicy, flavorful, and tantalizingly aromatic", and described the atmosphere as "1950s Texas soda shop—just the right accent to complement the hearty fare". Yahoo! Travel called the restaurant "fun, wild and woolly", offering food "in the true tradition of the Lone Star State". Yahoo! recommended the chile rellenos, ostrich enchiladas, or nopalito for a unique dining experience. The restaurant did not receive universal acclaim, however. In a negative review for The Portland Mercury in 2000, Robin Rosenberg wrote: ... one expects the food at Esparza's to be something special; You might think that the line trickling out the door on a Thursday night is an indication of exceptional Tex-Mex, worth a considerable sum. Well, certainly, Esparza's dècor, an amalgam of Western nostalgia, Texan brawn, and Tijuana cheese is executed with flair.