The highly anticipated and much salivated over opening of Red Mesa's third branch has arrived. The Red Mesa Mercado is the latest addition to the EDGE District's impressive culinary scene. The grab-and-go taquerias of Southern California provided the inspiration for the restaurant. 

The concept is simple and laid back. The fluidity of sun-dyed orange and turquoise paints as fresh as mint leaves echo the vibe for the new spot in the EDGE. The Mercado is the spot to unwind after work, fuel up during a lunch break, and toast a gorgeous weekend in the city. Outside the Mercado features counter service with an expansive outdoor pavilion. The inside will feature the market (mercado) aspect of the project. 

Manager Mike Chiparinni took us on a quick tour of the inside of the Mercado. The kitchen is busy as chefs and staff experiment with menu items.

Before we took our tour of Red Mesa's latest kitchen we enjoyed a wonderful reminder of why St. Pete is good for small business. Two of the Mercado's first customers  were Andy Saylards, owner of Urban Brew & BBQ, and Bill Georgiou, owner of The Burg Bar & Grill. The amount of local love running through this city is beyond words. The capacity of the Burg's business owners to not only encourage the growth of our local economy, but actively participate in its fruition is the reason Mayor Kriseman says "the sun shines here."

Chiparinni takes us into a side room where the staff makes Red Mesa's tortillas fresh every day. "We're keeping it simple to start," says Chiparinni. What looks simple on paper transfixes the senses in reality.

One of the biggest points of intrigue for Red Mesa enthusiasts was the retail aspect of the new restaurant. Chiparinni says they're still a few weeks away from officially opening the market. Once open, Burg residents will be able to purchase their favorite ingredients from Red Mesa's most popular menu items. Whether you're looking for sauces, salsas, tortillas or menu items to purchase, the market will offer residents the opportunity to bring home the zest of Red Mesa.

Before we left, we thought it wise to take some ordering advice from a seasoned Red Mesa veteran. Here's what Chiparinni recommends. "If I could only order one thing off of our menu it would be the Shrimp Cabo Ceviche." Though, with a variety of offerings, it's hard to single out just one item. "Another favorite is the pork verde burrito with relleno cheese," said Chiparinni with a sincere passion that speaks volumes about Red Mesa's dedication to quality.  

Mercado will also serve St. Pete's signature Kahwa Coffee. Chiparinni also said that as the Mercado's construction and setup is finishedm customers can expect to enjoy live music outside and glasses of Red Mesa's popular sangria. 

Red Mesa Mercado is located at 1100 1st Ave North.