Fresh and fit Cantina cuisine meets frozen yogurt in the Vista's newest two-in-one lunch, dinner and dessert stop, Salsarita's Fresh Cantina. The burrito bar, which has joined forces with frozen yogurt favorite TCBY, officially opens on Gervais Street today with a menu full of homemade, seasoned Mexican staples.
Salsarita's brings together the best of Main Street under one roof — giving cantina-goers a Moe's and Yoghut equivalent — and keeps prices low on a large selection of fresh burritos, tacos, quesadillas and Mexican pizza creations.
The cantina's guacamole, salsa, queso and flavored chips are all made in-house daily.
And although the restaurant houses the same Moe's and Chipotle-esque burrito toppings, the Charlotte-based cantina has added a few extra ingredients to the mix. In addition to the traditional grilled chicken, ground beef, shredded pork and grilled steak, Salsarita's offers an evocative edge to the Mexican flavor with its shrimp burritos, quesadillas, nachos and tacos.
It's fresh, unique and a delightfully splendid alternative to the normal. The shrimp — seasoned and grilled behind the counter — can't be found at any of the Columbia competitors and is a nice bridge between the equally delicious grilled steak and veggie burritos.
The line also houses refried beans and a "seasoned sour cream," which gives a Southwestern tart tang to the taco topper. Samples are available upon request.
And the cantina ditches the kids' menu portions with small and large sizes of each of its quesadillas, burritos and sides. Entrees can be ordered as a meal, which includes your choice of queso or guacomole, chips and a drink, all for about $10. And the queso — taking the best of the basic Moe's melted cheese and the more spiced-up Qdoba cup — is served up in portions big enough for two. But outside of the burrito setup, which does rival Moe's, Chipotle and Qdoba in taste and value, Salsarita's manager Suki Patel says the Mexican pizzas are what make the menu. Mouthwatering photos of the grilled chicken and shrimp pies, loaded with salsa, sour cream and queso, slide through a row of flat screens above the burrito line. And Salsarita's stays on the cutting edge with the first freestyle Coke machine — as seen in Moe's — in the Vista.
Blue tiles circle the dining room, which is filled with wicker-bottom wooden chairs and bar stools, long tables and four-tops, and the clean lines and bold colors set the Salsarita's vibe. The casual restaurant on-the-go also works to appease every interest with a store-front full bar, which serves up the chain's signature margaritas as well as Mexican, Spanish and domestic beers.
Each of the margaritas is made with Bacardi mixers; the concoctions, made either on the rocks or frozen, sell for $4.29. Imported beers are $3.99 and domestics are $2.99, but the new restaurant is looking to set a college night to include drink specials for students.
The front of the store transitions into bright pops of color and mod, low-to-the-ground circular tables and chairs as the dining room moves into dessert. The TCBY setup takes a tip or two from Yoghut's main room, with the same style of spinning arm chairs and "Zenon"-inspired — yes, as in the Disney Channel — furniture.
However, the new location brings the first self-serve TCBY to Columbia. A wall of yogurts keeps 10 flavors in swirl every day, including two no-sugar-added options and a nondairy sorbet. The white chocolate macadamia, one of the no-sugar-added and 98 percent fat-free choices, was surprisingly delicious. Sugar- and fat-free desserts don't usually make the top of the list, but the fresh but sweet treat was a guilt-free delight.
But the Salsarita's TCBY takes the frozen yogurt game in the last three stops on its bar of 36 toppings: hot walnuts, hot fudge and hot caramel sauce. It's delicious. And there is a sugar-free fudge sauce as well to add to the diabetic-friendly list of no-sugar-added yogurts.
Although the official Salsarita's and TCBY opening is scheduled for today, the duo opened for a trial run Saturday and Sunday. Salsarita's will host a grand opening in January, but the Mexican cantina and yogurt bar will be open during its regular hours beginning this week.
Salsarita's Fresh Cantina and TCBY is at 916 Gervais St., across the street from Whit-Ash, and is open Monday through Thursday 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday 10:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Sunday 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.