Upscale Mexican Restaurant Chain To Open This Week in WH's Blue Back Square

WEST HARTFORD, CT — This isn't a fast food taco stand going up in a shopping plaza.

No, Rosa Mexicano — a New York-city based chain of upscale, fine Mexican cuisine — is opening this Wednesday, Oct. 26, at Blue Back Square in West Hartford, with an upscale flair for authenticity.

The restaurant group announced the opening date recently via its Facebook Page.

"The wait is over," wrote Rosa Mexicano. "We are incredibly excited to announce the opening of our new West Hartford location on October 26."

In November 2021, the chain announced its upcoming arrival to West Hartford, with a spring 2022 date tentatively announced.

But that was delayed a bit and the opening was pushed back to fall.

All things appear to be set for an opening this week.

"It's going to be a major" celebration, wrote Rosa Mexicano about Wednesday's opening.

The new restaurant's address will be at 51 Isham Road near the Cheesecake Factory restaurant in the destination shopping, restaurant and retail hub.

That site has been vacant since 2020, when a bar and grill operation closed up amid the pandemic.

The chain will welcome West Hartford as its 10th site, with it already operating several sites in city tourist areas in New York, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia.

Rosa Mexicano's hours of operation will be 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday to Thursday and 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, according to the Hartford Courant.

According to the company, which released an official announcement on Monday, the new restaurant will feature:

• 6,000 square feet of space with seating for indoor and outdoor dining.

• Total seating for 276 with a 40-person bar (the largest bar among Rosa Mexicano sites) and a private dining room.

• Menu highlights include traditional, authentic Mexican fare with at-the-table guacamole, 100 types of tequila and agave-based drinks and "margaritas that were named best in New York City," according to Rosa Mexicano.

Company and Blue Back Square officials weighed in Monday on the soon-to-be opening.

“In 1984, our founding chef, Josefina Howard, opened the first Rosa Mexicano restaurant in a small New York City neighborhood and won over loyal fans with her authentic Mexican cuisine, creative bar and spirits program, and signature warm hospitality,” said Rosa Mexicano Chief Executive Officer Jim Dunn in a statement released Monday.

“We are thrilled to be joining the West Hartford community at Blue Back Square as we continue to introduce a fresh take on Mexican food, authentic Mexican heritage and culinary techniques through new location openings.”

“We couldn’t be more excited for Blue Back Square to be home to Rosa‘s first Connecticut location. We know our local West Hartford community is looking forward to enjoying their authentic Mexican cuisine,” added Paul Brandes, principal at Charter Realty & Development, which operates Blue Back Square, a statement released Monday.

"We welcome them to BBS, where they will join a robust line up of unique-to-the-market, destination restaurants."

For more information on Rosa Mexicano, including locations and menus, click on this link.

For Rosa Mexicano's Facebook site, click on this link.

For more information on Blue Back Square in West Hartford, click on this link.

For more information on Charter Realty & Development, click on this link.