OPINION: Laurence Reisman recommends Tequila Azteca in Vero Beach for its variety

One summer when he was in college, TCPalm community editor and columnist Laurence Reisman worked at one of the first Mexican restaurants in Westchester County, New York. The popular Cantina was in a historic county-owned building off the Saw Mill River Parkway in Greenburgh's scenic Macy Park.

It's where Reisman learned to appreciate Mexican cuisine, not the kind you find at most Americanized taco joints. He has become particular when it comes to eating Mexican food and hasn't had a go-to favorite in his many years living on the Treasure Coast.

Over the past two years, however, he's come to enjoy Tequila Azteca Mexican Cuisine in Vero Beach. It opened in 2022 at the site of the former Amalfi Grille .

Tequila Azteca doesn't have the old-world charm or park ambiance of Cantina — it's on the eastern end of Miracle Mile — but it benefits from renovations done in the early 2000s by owners of Carmel's. That fine-dining restaurant closed in 2010 in a building that has housed all sorts of restaurants and bars over the decades.

Tequila Azteca was opened by Alfonzo Garcia, Mario De La Cruz and Beto De La Cruz — the latter two are cousins, TCPalm reported . Its menu is similar to their other businesses, Casa Azteca in downtown Fort Pierce and one in Coral Springs.

Q : Why do you recommend this restaurant?

I like going there for lunch — I have a monthly luncheon meeting there, which is how I learned about it. The servers are friendly and the food is good. I have found numerous selections to give me a good amount of protein without many wasted calories. Dinner is good, too, and it's never been so busy I could not get in.

Q : What is your favorite dish there?

I like eating a variety of dishes, but my two favorites are arroz con pollo (rice with chicken) and the rancho salad with chicken breast asado. The rancho salad is lighter, loaded with lettuce and beans; the arroz con pollo is probably a little tastier. What's funny is I didn't understand until writing this piece why the arroz con pollo seemed the same as the version I'd had at Casa Azteca in downtown Fort Pierce: The restaurants have the same owner.

Q : Is there something unique on the menu you recommend trying?

They've got a bunch of dishes similar to what we had at a Mexican restaurant where I worked in college (and many other Mexican restaurants). I'm always a sucker for chile relleno (roasted peppers stuffed with cheese).

Q : Describe the atmosphere.

It's pretty standard: booths and hardwood tables. There's a small bar area and a separate room, perfect for small group meetings or special events.

Tequila Azteca

• Cuisine: Mexican
• Address: 398 21st St., Vero Beach, Florida, 32960
• Phone: 772-492-9360
• Website: tequilaaztecavb.com

This column reflects the opinion of Laurence Reisman. Contact him via email at larry.reisman@tcpalm.com, phone at 772-978-2223, Facebook.com/larryreisman or Twitter @LaurenceReisman .

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This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: OPINION: Laurence Reisman recommends Tequila Azteca in Vero Beach for its variety