La Santa Tacos & Tequilas opened Sunday night in the former space of Fuzzy’s Taco Shop in North Naples.
La Santa moved into the 4,796-square-foot space where Fuzzy’s closed in March 2020 after operating for slightly more than three years in the retail center anchored by SuperTarget on Immokalee Road just east of Interstate 75. Although already opened, the restaurant still needs to hire eight servers, two bartenders and some bussers, said Alejandra Gallego, the restaurant’s general manager.
Offering an extensive scratch menu of traditional and modern Mexican cuisine, the restaurant seats 180, which includes covered patio dining. La Santa’s upscale but casual atmosphere features authentic Mexican décor punctuated by sugar skulls, cactus and hand-painted accents.
The full bar creates freshly made drinks from a sizeable cocktail menu. Margaritas are made with a choice of silver, reposado, añejo or extra añejo tequila with as many as 25 varieties for each type. Flights of Margaritas, tequila and mezcal are available too. Mojitos are featured in six flavors and sangria is made with white, red or rosé wines. Mexican beers, wine and champagne also are available
The menu’s taco varieties include a choice of flour or corn tortillas loaded with carnitas, chorizo, chicken, steak, fish, shrimp, veggies and even pork belly, falafel, chicken wonton or queso birria. Made fresh daily for lunch and dinner, the food also includes burritos, chimichangas, fajitas, enchiladas, nachos, quesadillas, steaks and salads, as well as chicken, seafood and vegetarian dishes.
Specialty dishes include Molcajete Azteca, a hot volcanic stone bowl filled with rib-eye steak, chicken breast, grilled shrimp, poblano peppers, onions, pineapple chunks and honey pasilla sauce topped with shredded cheese and served with flour tortillas, rice and beans; Pollo La Santa, a grilled chicken breast and mushrooms covered with chorizo and nacho cheese and served with rice and beans; and a Philly steak burrito with sliced steak, onions, mushrooms and roasted poblano peppers drizzled with cheese sauce.
La Santa, co-owned by Pedro Aguirre, has two locations. Aguirre opened his first location three years ago in Tyngsborough, Massachusetts.
La Santa, 2405 Tarpon Bay Blvd., is open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday. Lunch specials are available 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily.
