Taco Cabana® to Celebrate Grand Opening of New Houston Location

HOUSTON, Aug. 17, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Unveiling a fresh and unique design, San Antonio-based Taco Cabana will celebrate the opening of its newest restaurant at 127 Yale Street in Houston, Texas, on August 27, 2012. The new location will feature a more dynamic and inviting atmosphere to enhance the overall guest experience while celebrating the contemporary flavors of Mexico.

Capturing the Essence of Mexico
Inside, decorative metal "estrella" lights hang from the ceiling, while 'papel picado' (iconic cut paper flags symbolizing a Mexican celebration) accents fashioned from laser-cut metal add a festive flair to the mix. String lights break the plane of the building, extending from outside on the patio into the dining room, bringing the patio experience indoors.

Striking street-life photos from the heart of Mexico line the walls, echoing Taco Cabana's focus on bringing authentic, contemporary Mexican cuisine to its guests. Texas-based photographer Rick Hunter sought to capture images contrary to the common American perception of Mexico, instead opting to capture everyday glimpses of true Mexican culture.

"We sent Rick deep into Mexico to capture the true essence of the country's culture for our restaurants," said Todd Coerver, chief brand officer at Taco Cabana. "Our intent is to accurately reflect the flavors of Mexico in everything we do – from our restaurant design, to the photos that adorn our walls, to the music we play, to the fresh ingredients blended into our made-from-scratch recipes."

Contemporary Mexican Architecture
The moment guests walk into the new restaurant, they will notice a cleaner, simpler design, balanced with splashes of bold color and modern geometric shapes. Inspired by renowned Mexican architects Ricardo Legorreta and Luis Barragan, known for their minimalist architecture, the new design marks a departure from previous restaurant locations and reflects the brand's commitment to celebrating the contemporary aspects of Mexican culture and design.

In addition, a redesigned patio with elegant bi-fold doors enhances the perception of bringing the outside in. Landscaping featuring cacti in geometric linear designs adds to the ambiance and offers a relaxing contrast to the bustling city that surrounds.

"We wanted the 'new' Taco Cabana to contemporize and enhance the guest experience," said Davis Sprinkle, owner of Sprinkle & Co. Architects and mastermind behind the redesign. "The changes we made to the restaurant are designed to combine traditional Mexican architecture with more modern influences, ultimately providing a culturally stimulating and more enjoyable environment for guests."

Elevating our Guest Experience
Beyond changes to the restaurant's appearance, Taco Cabana has also made significant changes to its guest experience by upgrading its service in new and newly remodeled locations. The enhancements include:

• The addition of table service from a hostess who delivers orders rather than having guests return to the ordering counter to retrieve food.
• Complimentary chips offered to each guest to enjoy with selections from the fresh salsa bar as they wait for food.

According to Coerver, "Continuing to evolve and meet the needs of our guests is imperative in our industry. Our goal is to provide our guests with the finest affordable Mexican dining experience possible and we couldn't be more excited about the future at Taco Cabana."

Opening Festivities
Residents from the area are invited to join Taco Cabana as they celebrate the Grand Opening on Tuesday, August 28^th, with a ribbon cutting ceremony at 11:00 a.m.  Executives from Taco Cabana including, Rodney Dunn, VP of Operations, will be in attendance. 

A few dignitaries from the Greater Heights Chamber of Commerce will also be on-site.

Customer Appreciation Event
Fans should mark their calendars and plan to join us on the patio for happy hour and nacho specials on Thursday, September 20. TC will host a customer appreciation event from 4 – 7 p.m., as the celebration continues at the newest location in Houston. The event will include live entertainment from Latin guitar player Rom Ryan and caricature drawings. Attendees will also be entered in to a drawing to win free TC for a year.

About Taco Cabana®: The Flavors of Mexico
In 1978, Taco Cabana began as a taco stand in San Antonio, with the unique recipes and ingredients that reflect our rich Mexican culture and food. With more than 156 restaurants in 3 states, Taco Cabana continues to redefine the Mexican fast-casual dining experience through ongoing menu and service enhancements. We are committed to providing our guests the true flavors of Mexico, served up in a relaxing, patio cafe environment. From our kitchens' daily fresh-made tortillas and handmade salsas to our flame-grilled fajitas and refreshing tequila margaritas, our commitment to quality lives on, making Taco Cabana one of the region's most enduring and beloved Mexican food brands. Connect with us on Facebook and Twitter for offers and updates from Taco Cabana or for more information, please visit www.tacocabana.com.

About Fiesta Restaurant Group
Fiesta Restaurant Group, Inc. owns and operates the Pollo Tropical(R) and Taco Cabana(R) restaurant brands with 243 company-owned and operated restaurants and 38 franchised restaurants in the U.S., Puerto Rico, the Bahamas, Cost Rica, Ecuador, Honduras, Trinidad and Venezuela. The brands specialize in the operation of fast-casual, ethnic restaurant brands that offer distinct and unique flavors with a broad appeal at a compelling value. Both brands feature made-from-scratch cooking, fresh salsa bars, and drive-thru service and catering. Fiesta common stock is traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol FRGI. For more information about Fiesta Restaurant Group, Inc. visit the company's website at www.frgi.com.

SOURCE Taco Cabana