Cinco De Mayo is the addition to Fairfield’s Latin Row

Restaurant offers steak and seafood along with traditional Mexican fare

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By Teri Horsley, Contributing Writer 4:37 PM Wednesday, July 1, 2009

Route 4 in Fairfield is becoming known as “Latin Row,” with Mexican, Peruvian, Caribbean and South American foods available at many new restaurants that have opened there.

One of the newest places for Mexican food fans is Cinco De Mayo, housed in the old Casa Tequila building near Seward Road. The restaurant re-opened in December and while some of the brightly colored furniture from Casa Tequila remains, the new management has completely overhauled the previous menu.

“We try to keep traditional Mexican items, but we also have seven different sauces, and many American seafood and steak choices which makes us different,” said manager Francisco Torres.

Torres and his cousin Pedro Brabo have been working on many changes over the past six months and one of the biggest is that the restaurant now hosts private parties with live music on the huge stage that sits in the middle of the dining area. A large glass showcase filled with rare Mexican tequilas is another unique feature that greets diners as they enter the restaurant.

The lunch menu at Cinco De Mayo features daily specials like tacos, chimichangas and burritos. There are also full luncheon entrees including a Mexican stir fry with carrots, broccoli, mushrooms, green peppers, onions and chicken served on a bed of Spanish rice then topped with Jack cheese. Sandwiches have an American bent and include grilled ham and cheese, burgers and chicken tenders. The soup and salad menu is large with the popular Ropa Vieja Salad being made from shredded beef, romaine lettuce, tomatoes, onions, green olives and avocado and served with a house vinaigrette in a crispy tortilla. Seafood lovers will enjoy the Sopa de Mariscos which is a soup made with crab legs, shrimp, octopus and chunks of fish, tomatoes, onions, cilantro and avocado.

Cinco De Mayo has a full service bar with Happy Hour featuring drink specials on beer and margueritas. The dinner menu has more American choices like Pepper Steak cooked with a mix of peppers, fresh garlic, onions, tomato sauce and served with rice and beans. The house T-Bone comes with sauteed mushrooms, and dinner seafood choices include blended dishes like the Fiesta Plate with fresh shrimp, scallops, crab and chicken cooked in an authentic Mexican sour cream sauce. There are also super plates on the dinner menu with the Parrillada de Carnes serving up to four people and featuring all of the house meats, and the Parrillada de Mariscos which serves four and includes shrimp, crab legs, scallops, octopus, lobster, calamari, mussels, wrapped shrimp in bacon ham and cheese, and Mexican shrimp scampi. Desserts are more traditionally Mexican and include home made flan and sopapilla.

The kids menu at Cinco De Mayo features tacos, cheese sticks, burgers, and jalapeno poppers, and throughout July, kids under 12 eat free on Sunday and Monday. Carry out is available and call in orders are ready in ten minutes or less. Birthdays are celebrated at the restaurant with a free dessert and staff sing- a- long, and reservations are accepted throughout the day.

how to go:

WHAT: Cinco De Mayo

WHERE: 6701 Dixie Highway, Fairfield

WHEN: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday - Thursday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday/Saturday. Closed Sunday. Happy Hour is 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Mon -Sat. Lunch is served daily (including specials) from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Bar hours are the same as the restaurant.

COST: Lunch specials are $4.95, with luncheon entrees ranging from $6.95 - $7.50. Soups are $6.95 to $14.95 for the Sopa de Mariscos, salads are $3.95 to $7.95. Sandwiches are $4.50 - $5.95, Steaks are $11.95 to $16.95 and the daily dinner special is $2 off of a listed item.

The Parrillada de Carnes is $49.95, and the Parrillada de Mariscos is $79.95. Kids menu items are $3.50.

MORE INFO: (513) 942-3465, www.cincodemayo.webs.com

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