New Cape Coral restaurant features tacos, tequila and UFC legend Tito Ortiz

Tito’s Cantina Tequila Bar & Grille made its much-anticipated debut in Cape Coral last week and customers have been lining up ever since.

“It’s been amazing,” said owner Tito Ortiz. “We’ve been so busy since we opened.”

Crowds have been gathering at the front of the Cape Coral Parkway restaurant even before the doors open at 5 p.m. About 25 people waited patiently Friday to kick off the holiday weekend. By 5:45 p.m. many of the indoor, outdoor and bar seats were filled.

And it’s still in a soft-opening phase.

Here are five things to know about downtown Cape Coral’s newest restaurant before you go:

Yep, it’s that Tito

Tito’s Cantina is owned by Ortiz, the former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion and Hall of Famer. His championship belts (five from consecutively defending his title and one from when he lost the title) hang proudly in lighted display boxes.

“I still love watching UFC,” he said. “I love my fans. But I did that for 25 years and have moved on to this chapter of my life. I don’t miss it. Now I want to make people feel good through food.”

And he’s all in on this new venture.

Prior to opening, he spent 10 hours a day, seven days a week getting the space ready.

“Now I’m going to do whatever I have to,” Ortiz said. “I’ll be in the front of the house, greeting people, serving food, cleaning tables, filling waters, refreshing chips and salsa which are free by the way. Whatever it takes.”

Ortiz — with his wife Amber and twin boys (freshmen at Ida Baker High School) — have called Cape Coral home since December after relocating here from Huntington Beach, California.

“I’m fortunate to have fans and friends here,” Ortiz said. “It feels like home. Everywhere I go, someone always says, ‘Hi.’ Whether they know who I am or not. That makes me happy. I love to shake hands and say ‘Hello.’”

“The food I love so much”

The restaurant’s authentic Southern California Mexican menu is inspired by Ortiz.

“I want to showcase the Mexican food I love so much,” he said. “Mexican food is my heritage and I want to pay homage. It’s my grandmother’s and mom’s and even dad’s recipes passed down. It’s the food I love so much.”

Those recipes and the rest of the menu are in the hands of head chef Tyler Edwards, previously with the Luminary in downtown Fort Myers.

“Tito had given me freedom to showcase items he wants and add more,” Edwards said. “Everything is housemade. The tortillas are made fresh daily from scratch. We get everything within 250 miles from here to keep it local. It’s important for us to stand out and be different.”

The menu, with several gluten-free and vegan options, begins with “champion favorites” tableside guacamole, chicharron (pork crisps), Cape trash can nachos and Oaxacan shrimp cocktail. It continues with a variety of ensaladas, quesadillas (carnitas, chicken or carne asada), tacos (chicken, steak, fish or carnitas options), tostada, vegetarian options and chicken, carnitas or steak bowls.

Desserts — from fried, coconut-crusted cheesecake to tres leche — are also available.

“I want people to come in and let me know what they think,” Ortiz said. “I want input. If there is something you don’t like let me know so I can fix it.”

Margaritas and much more

The special cocktail menu was in effect during the soft opening but it will eventually evolve to be just as large as the food menu.

“We will have 42 different tequilas and 11 bourbons,” Ortiz said. “And we aren’t done yet. We will see what sells and what doesn’t, then we will add more.”

For now, margaritas are a big seller.

There are bottled beers and eight on tap, including Tito’s dark and light options.

Specialty cocktails include tequila, rum, vodka and homemade sangria-based drinks.

Red and white wines are available as well.

Cool, sleek, modern vibe inside

Ortiz, who co-owns Tito’s with Chris Rowland, spent months redoing the building that was once home to the original Nice Guys and, more recently, The Spot.

A Day of the Dead mural, installed by a local company, dominates one wall and sets the West Coast Mexican tone. It’s offset by Tito’s neon logo set in a bed of roses on the opposite wall.

In between, you’ll find a comfortable, gold and black U-shaped bar that splits the room in two. It’s the perfect location to have a drink while you wait for a table at a high top on one side or a low top on the other side of that bar.

The dining room seats 80 inside and about 60 more at umbrella-covered outdoor tables.

There’s a reserved table set toward the back and under those championship belts.

“It’s the champions corner,” Ortiz said. “I’m not sure what we will do with it. Maybe dinner with Tito.”

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Parking, waiting and expanding

The best place to park is out back in the recently resurfaced lot for The Spot guests.

Once parked, head around front and be prepared to wait, especially in these early days with limited hours.

“We will be open from 5-10 every day for the next week, week and a half,” Ortiz said. “Then we will be open until midnight on Friday and Saturday.”

Ortiz sees this location as the first of more to come.

“I may do three of these,” Ortiz said. “Maybe Bonita, maybe Fort Myers and possibly franchise after that. But first I want to make sure this one is perfect.”

And he’s working hard on getting there.

“I’m just a hard-working American, still trying to chase the American dream,” Ortiz said. “This place has my name on it so it has to be the best I can make it.”

Tito’s Cantina Tequila Bar & Grille, 1334 Cape Coral Parkway E., Cape Coral; (239) 205-6984; follow on Instagram.

Robyn George is a food and dining writer for The Fort Myers News-Press. Send news to rhgeorge@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Tito's Cantina opens in Cape Coral with tacos, tequila and Tito Ortiz