Cactus Rose, the vibrant Latin-infused restaurant that has been a mainstay in Wilton’s town center, will reopen its doors on Friday, May 1. Water damage closed the business in January and mother-daughter owners Katerina and Maria Pertesis are excited to be back in business.
“We have been working hard to update the restaurant, including adding some new food and drink options. It is a perfect time for the grand reopening as we celebrate Cinco De Mayo Weekend,” Maria says.
Visitors will see the restaurant has retained its familiar look, with the colorfully red-yellow-and-orange tiled walls above the open kitchen that energizes the dining room as much as the delicious cuisine. the Pertesises worked hard to get the restaurant back in tip-top shape, as the damage was extensive when the frozen sprinkler pipes exploded. They had to replace the electrical and HVAC systems as well as completely redo the floors, walls and major surfaces throughout the space.
The new thick wood bar was laid down just last week and the lacquered polish was still drying on Tuesday. And while Maria says it was very difficult to have to be closed for four months–especially with business lost–she’s eager to get people back in to have fun and enjoy.
“We want everyone to come on down, you won’t be disappointed! We are thrilled to be back to serve Wilton, and we’ve missed everyone,” she says.
The duo are no strangers to the restaurant business. The family has been in the food service industry for over 40 years, and they say it’s important to use top of the line ingredients. They use organic free range chicken, prime meats and fish that is wild caught and delivered fresh daily. The produce is also organic and locally sourced. They are proud to serve patrons who come in for brunch, lunch, dinner or for a fun night out. The outdoor is the perfect place to relax and enjoy a unique blend of Latin inspired flavors and signature cocktails.
Among the dishes on the new menu, diners can look for wild Portuguese octopus, seared on a cast iron skillet served with arugula, chickpeas and sundried tomatoes. They also feature tequila chicken, stuffed with manchego and chorizo topped with a fresh mushroom cream sauce. Or, the new charred kale salad, with pine nuts, goat cheese, roasted beets tossed with a lemon vingaigrette. And Cactus Rose’s signature quatro leches cake will be back, with its fluffy white buttermilk cake soaked in 4 different kinds of milk topped with toasted coconut.
Of course, the restaurant’s famous bar, with its featured cross-cultural fusion drinks–fresh squeezed lime juice margaritas, mojitos, capirinhias and the new mexican mule, a spin on the traditional moscow mule–will be hopping, as usual.
Katerina and Maria invite everyone to go local for Cinco De Mayo this year. Join the celebration at Cactus Rose on May 5, as Star 99.9 FM airs live from the outdoor patio.
For more information, visit the Cactus Rose website, or like them on Facebook for upcoming events.