Fuego Comida and Tequila brings elevated coastal Mexican cuisine to Manatee County
After years of planning and meticulous attention to the design, ambiance and menu, Fuego Comida and Tequila recently opened, bringing what the owners call elevated Mexican coastal cuisine to the Bradenton area.
The new high-end restaurant at 11615 State Road 70 E., Lakewood Ranch, offers a distinctive new option to diners as well as others who might just want to mingle with a drink and a bite at the bar or covered patio.
The restaurant is in The Green shopping center on the northeast corner of S.R. 70 and Lakewood Ranch Boulevard.
Owners Nick Amanatidis and Joe Sciulara planned to take a go-slow approach to opening the restaurant to make sure all systems were working properly.
“From day one we’ve been busy and it hasn’t let up,” Amanatidis said of the enthusiastic reception from guests. It’s a nice problem to have, he said.
Fuego Comida and Tequila’s menu features single-origin heirloom milled corn masa (dough) for its house-made corn tortillas, and single-origin heirloom beans from the small farms of Puebla, Mexico, under the Xoxoc Project, the owners say.
The bar has a large selection of fine tequilas and mezcals, as well as a global wine selection. Check the menu for cocktail tours, including flights of mimosas, tequila and espresso martinis.
Also worth noting are the Bloody Marys, ranging from the classic at $12 to those serving four people, available with everything from chilled prawns and lobster tails to tenderloin tips and slab bacon.
The high-end steaks and seafood served with a Mexican flair are reflective of the Yucatán and Veracruz, and are a booming trend at West Coast restaurants, said chef Jason Dame, a 30-year kitchen veteran.
Fuego Comida and Tequila is designed as a place where guests can be comfortable and enjoy a lively atmosphere, Amanatidis said.
To that end, the restaurant has a covered outdoor patio with double screens and a high-pressure misting system to keep guests cool in the summer.
During the winter, there are heaters suspended from the ceiling and a 15-foot-long fire table for warmth. Completing the patio are a pair of TVs for sports viewing and a bar.
Inside is a lounge area, built around an oversized bar, U-shaped booths and high-top tables. The walls are completed with artwork, some of which, as it turns out, are actually flat-screen TVs.
“This is the area that books up first,” Amanatidis said of the lounge.
The most formal part of the restaurant is the dining room, which offers booths and tables.
Among the most popular menu items is the Mexico City garlic noodles at $20. Additional ingredients are available, including Dungeness crab, at market price.
The menu emphasizes steak and seafood. Among the standouts are the family-sized 35-ounce Fuego Tomahawk steak for $150, the 14-ounce New York strip for $52, the sea bass for $50 and the enchilada skillet for $22.
The restaurant also has two happy hours. One is called the “before,” meaning before the dinner rush from 4 to 6 p.m. seven days a week. The “after” menu is 9 to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 10 p.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday.
During happy hour, there are discounted specials on food, starting at $10 for the Tijuana Caesar and topping out at $21 for the Fuego burger.
Signature margaritas are offered at $12 and craft cocktails for $14.
The restaurant has seating for 206 and is already getting bookings for large groups. Fuego Comida and Tequila recently hosted the Cardinal Mooney High School football team and has a breast cancer benefit planned.
Hours are 4 to 11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 4 p.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday. Sunday brunch is served 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturday brunch is coming soon and the restaurant will start serving lunch on Nov. 1.
For more information or reservations, visit www.FuegoTequilaLounge.com or call 941-751-5252.
