Orange County Register

After waiting nearly a year, Baja Fresh’s new concept restaurant in Irvine has received a permit to serve alcohol.

The move paves the way for the revamped restaurant to sell margaritas and domestic and imported beers such as Budweiser, Corona and Negra Modelo. The 12-oz. margarita is served on the rocks and made with triple sec and a low-alcohol agave tequila liquor.  Cost: $3.79. The beer will range in price from $2.99 to $3.49.

The Cypress-based fresh-Mex chain is testing the cocktail program in some restaurants to boost dinner sales.

If the pilot program proves successful, the chain will consider adding margaritas and beers in other restaurants, said Baja Fresh marketing executive Jerry DeLucia.

A remodeled Baja Fresh in Irvine

The Mexican cocktail is already served at the Baja Fresh in Huntington Beach (7101 Yorktown Ave.) and will be on the menu at a Baja Fresh in Costa Mesa. The Harbor Boulevard Baja Fresh shuttered earlier this year, and recently reopened under a new franchisee.

DeLucia said the new operator plans to remodel the Costa Mesa eatery to look like the Baja Fresh in Irvine — a prototype concept that offers diners bolder foods in a more contemporary dining room.

For example, the Irvine Baja Fresh, which is located in the same retail center as Gelson’s market, has wooden chairs and tables with Caesar Stone tops. The furniture replaces bar stools and metal tables. (Full story: Baja Fresh’s Look of the Future)

BAJA FRESH SLIDE SHOW: Baja Fresh executives gave the Register an exclusive tour of the remodeled Irvine restaurant. CLICK HERE TO VIEW OUR  SLIDE SHOW

Tell us: Do you think this a good idea for Baja Fresh? What do you think about the $3.79 margarita price?

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