Twice a week, an out-of-town truck driver stops at Taco Casa in Vicksburg. It’s become part of his routine, and his trips through the River City wouldn’t be complete without it.

The ritual of ordering a chili con queso from one of Vicksburg’s oldest restaurants holds steady for many locals and visitors alike, and it’s not uncommon for college students to head back to their dorm rooms with bags full of burritos to give them a taste of home after they’ve left Warren County.

“The mainstay of the business has been taste,” said owner Rowdy Nosser. “The consistency has been stellar for so long.”

Taco Casa’s manager and Vicksburg native Sandra Lovell knows the importance of that consistency, and she takes pride in knowing the food she’s cooked has been beloved in Vicksburg since 1977.

“I’ve always liked to cook,” she said. “This is my job, my livelihood, and I take pride in my work.”

Though the recipes she uses to cook at Taco Casa daily don’t necessarily belong to her, Lovell said she still gives it her all and is proud of the food she makes.

“It makes me feel good to know, ‘hey, I cooked this,’” she said.

Lovell said her key to success at Taco Casa has been always giving a 100-percent effort, and that dedication helps make the business successful.

“We’ve got some good people here that really care about the business,” Lovell said.

And from the regular customers whose orders she has memorized, to the family who ordered a Taco Casa meal for their Thanksgiving celebration at home, Lovell strives to maintain a good relationship with customers.

“You’ve just got to care about your job,” she said.