Santa Maria Brings Spanish Tapas To The City Center

Press release from the City of Cumming:

Jan. 4, 2023

A veteran chef and restauranteur will be bringing unique flavors of Spanish and Latin American tapas (small plates) and beverages to the Cumming City Center via his new restaurant, Santa Maria.

Currently involved with Fuego Tortilla in Marietta, and Fuego Mar Mexican and Seafood Restaurant in Senoia, owner Mariano Garcia can’t wait to bring his bold and creative tapas to the Cumming City Center.

“It takes a lot of hard work to get this place cooking, and we’re excited to share our unique cuisine with the Cumming community,” said Garcia, who has been involved in the food and beverage business for 12 years. Throughout his career, he has been responsible for design, menu development, marketing and advertising, as well as other business functions commensurate with operating successful restaurants. But he is always led by one simple motivation – his passion for great food.

“That passion will definitely guide me and my team at Santa Maria in the Cumming City Center,” he added. “This restaurant will be influenced by Spanish and Latin American recipes, serving a mix of traditional Spanish dishes such as cured meats, paella, croquettes, queso, and more.”
Garcia added that Santa Maria will be heavily focus on seafood dishes such as ceviche and Tulum, a Spanish dish with fish and scallops. Others specialties will include Spanish tapas-style omelets made with potatoes, and molletts - tapas-style toasts similar to Italian bruschetta - with a variety of toppings such as cheese, fresh fish, salsas, and olive tapenades.

The tapas bar will, of course, also offer tasty and unique beverages inspired by those found in Spain and Latin America. “We’ll have a strong focus on wines, tequila, and mezcal,” Garcia said. “We’ll also offer plenty of fresh cocktails with all the ingredients made completely from scratch – we use no premade mixes or processed ingredients.”

Garcia is happy to be expanding his culinary footprint by creating a tapas bar, and is confident that being a part of the Cumming City Center will contribute to the success of Santa Maria.

“Our mission is to give customers a place to celebrate life’s social moments by offering the best food, service, and ambience,” he said. “We aim to provide a unique and relaxing dining experience. We feel confident that experience will be welcomed by this community, and Santa Maria will quickly become a vital part of the Cumming City Center.”

This press release was produced by the City of Cumming. The views expressed here are the author's own.