Change Will Come to Ole and Olecito With the Departure of Chef/Co-Owner Erwin Ramos

A pair of Mexican restaurants in Cambridge will see some changes in the coming months with the departure of chef/co-owner Erwin Ramos. He spent 19 years overseeing the Ole Restaurant Group — including Ole Mexican Grill and fast-casual Olecito in Inman Square — but he has departed the businesses, which will remain open under new management.

Ramos plans to spend more time with his family and will potentially pursue new culinary opportunities in the Boston area, he told Eater. He also shared the news in a post on Facebook, writing: “It has been a wonderful experience working with my family, building our business, and exploring the world of rich Mexican food culture. It has brought me great honor to be part of such an experience and I'm humbled to be a pioneer of it.”

Under new management, the Ole and Olecito concepts will be consolidated into the Ole space, Ramos told Eater.

“I sold my interest to the new owners, who will open a burrito bar in the front of Ole and still open Ole's dining room at the back of Ole,” he wrote in an email. “They will still do my recipes until they can come up with a new concept.”

In Ramos’ time at Ole, the restaurant received several Best of Boston awards from Boston Magazine, along with recognition for his expertise in traditional and modern Mexican cuisine. With his departure from the group, Ramos’ immediate plan includes a 10-day culinary adventure to Veracruz, Mexico with Chicago chef and restaurateur Rick Bayless and other chefs from both the U.S. and Mexico, he told Eater.