Known for its Mexican cuisine and customer service, Salsa Fiesta – South Florida’s homegrown Mexican fast casual concept – recently opened its fourth restaurant in Fort Lauderdale. Owners and operators Cesar Olivo, Adriana Perez Benatar, and Samuel Perez Benatar continue to expand their family-owned empire with this addition to their successful restaurants in Miami, Pembroke Pines, and Aventura. Unique to this location, Salsa Fiesta Fort Lauderdale will serve breakfast seven days a week.
“We are thrilled to be in Fort Lauderdale,” says Cesar Olivo, CEO and co-founder of Salsa Fiesta. “The new location will continue to offer the same commitment to customer service and food quality that has become synonymous with the Salsa Fiesta brand.” The restaurants feature freshly-made fare and expedited food preparation, serving customers in five minutes or less.
Monday through Friday, from 8 to 11 a.m., and from 10 a.m. to noon on weekends, Salsa Fiesta Fort Lauderdale will be the first location to offer breakfast seven days a week. Mexican breakfast favorites will be available including levanta muerto, known as “hangover tortilla soup,” topped with a fried egg ($3.99); crispy cheese taquitos – three crispy taquitos stuffed with cheese, served with guava dipping sauce ($2.99); huevos ranchero – two eggs sunny side up served over crispy corn tortillas smothered with chipotle black beans and topped with crushed chili salsa ($4.95); classic egg burrito – flour or wheat tortilla, three scrambled eggs with pico de gallo and queso ($4.25); special egg burrito – flour or wheat tortilla, three scrambled eggs, carnitas, chipotle black beans, queso, scallions, crunchy tortilla strips with hot tamale salsa ($4.95); and breakfast torta – telera bread sandwich, cilantro omelette, chipotle beans with Chihuahua cheese ($4.75). Salsa Fiesta also offers gluten-free options such as molcajete slim fit – low fat plain yogurt topped with mango, fresh seasonal berries and granola, drizzled with organic blue agave nectar ($3.99); and Mexican style waffles made with almond flour, dusted with Azteca cinnamon sugar, topped with mango and whipped cream, served with organic blue agave nectar syrup and guava dipping sauce ($5.75).
Guests can enjoy stand-out lunch and dinner menu items including a variety of tortas; homemade Mexican griddled telera bread sandwiches such as the zocalo – grilled chicken, avocado, chipotle black beans, poblano rajas, Chihuahua cheese, creamy cilantro salsa, and arugula served with freshly-made tortilla chips, Salsa Fiesta’s signature Hot Tamale salsa and an arugula side salad ($8.99); Acapulco salad – roasted corn, pico de gallo and guacamole served over a bed of lettuce with creamy cilantro salsa and crispy tostones with a choice of chicken, beef, carnitas, steak, fish, or veggies ($6.99 – $8.99), depending on choice of meat); and the Guerrero taco platter – three lettuce-wrapped tacos filled with onions, cilantro, mango salsa, red cabbage, creamy cilantro salsa, and cheese, served with chips and pico de gallo, with a choice of chicken, beef, carnitas, steak, fish, or veggies ($7.99, + $0.33 for steak or fish). Happy Hour will also be offered Monday through Friday from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., featuring drink specials – $1.99 for agave draft beer; $2.50 margaritas and sangria; and $2.50 for chips and hot tamale salsa.
Mirroring its sister restaurants, the ambiance in Salsa Fiesta Fort Lauderdale boasts a vibrant, urban atmosphere, replete with colorful Aztec and Mayan-inspired murals and artwork. Featuring smooth concrete walls lined with reclaimed wood and exposed ceilings, the décor expresses an industrial, loft-like setting with dynamic pops of color from tangerine chairs to planters of bright mosaic tiles. The restaurant offers both indoor seating and an ample outdoor patio area perfect for sipping margaritas with friends at Happy Hour or enjoying a casual dinner. In addition to using reclaimed wood in their décor, Salsa Fiesta uses eco-friendly products. The restaurant serves their food on organic bamboo plates which are non-toxic, melamine-free, and biodegradable, helping reduce waste in the environment. In lieu of plastic forks and knives, Salsa Fiesta uses real silverware as well as reusable plastic cups.
The first Salsa Fiesta location opened in Miami in October 2009; in September 2011, the entrepreneurial trio opened their second store in Pembroke Pines; and in December 2012, the Aventura restaurant opened its doors to the public.
