There are always a few precious months in a restaurant’s early days when none of the chairs or tables wobble and all of the menu corners are perfectly flat. Don’t get me wrong, there’s charm to an eatery that’s been around the block for a while, but the neat freak in me really enjoys the fresh feel of a brand new dining room, and La Fiesta’s doesn’t disappoint. Celebrating their grand opening just one day after Cinco de Mayo, they’ve kept the party going, and the food (and alcohol) flowing.

Their menu is relatively small, but it feels more like it’s been well curated than prematurely cut off. As soon as we were seated, a heaping basket of warm tortilla chips with a side of pico de gallo, medium-heat salsa and bean dip arrived. We decided to start with the Queso Fundido, because how can you go wrong with baked cheese on chorizo? The rich, ultra-hot appetizer was served with warm tortillas, and though we thoroughly enjoyed it, that much cheese would be just perfect for a table of four (or even six), as opposed to just the two of us.

I’m absolutely crazy about tacos, so I knew right away the Tacos Gobernador (“Governor” in English) were for me. Filled with grilled shrimp and roasted poblano chiles—the tacos were perfectly smoky and nicely complemented by super fluffy rice and refried beans.

My husband opted for the Arrachera Alteña, expertly grilled skirt steak with subtle seasonings—allowing the hearty beef flavor to shine. The thin cut of meat can be difficult to get right—restaurants often overcook it to the point of no return—but Alteña’s version was supple and tender. The plate also came with beans, red rice, chunky guacamole, a side of salsa and lightly grilled tortillas.  

Despite all of my culinary adventures, I haven’t eaten much flan, so we had to try it. The dense custard dessert, served in a hefty slice, sat amongst a pool of light caramel sauce. Talk about a fiesta in my mouth.

by Jennifer Resnicke  //  photos by Dante Fontana

La Fiesta Alteña, 1563 Eureka Road, Roseville, 916-532-5384