New Perico’s offers food and music
If you are looking for a place where you can talk to a friend, listen to music and dance, try the new Perico’s Tex Mex Bar & Grill.
The new hot spot for locals and local bands is near the border of North Fort Myers and Cape Coral.
The exterior is deceiving, but once you get inside you will see large restaurant and bar area and then a big stage and a big dance floor in the back.
The owners are Gabe Costilla and his wife, Susan, from Cape Coral, who, despite the economy, decided recently to open the new business.
“We have entertainment, great food and we are planning a big patio outside for those who love being outside,” Costilla said. “We’re creating an avenue where it’s right here centrally. We’re in the middle between Fort Myers and Cape Coral.”
The visibility from Hancock Bridge Parkway is also key, he said.
“I had a restaurant on Del Prado from 1999 to 2004, then I sold it to Stevie Tomato’s, Gabe said. “I just waited for another location and always thought this was a good location. So far, it’s been great.”
The restaurant and bar area are set back from the band and dance floor, which is good for conversation.
“We specialize in Mexican food, but we also serve American sandwiches and dinners,” he said. “We don’t want to be known as just having Mexican food. Our ribs are also fantastic.”
Fajitas are one of his favorite specialties, also chimichangas, he added.
The restaurant makes its own salsa, which is free at the bar and a perfect blend of mild and spicy – not too hot, not too mild. There are also kids’ items.
Local musicians are being featured at the new businesses.
“We have such a great stage and dance floor that we just decided to bring in music,” he said. “With the avenue we have, we thought, what a great place for bands.”
When he saw the layout, he was hooked on the space, Costilla said.
“A lot of bands play outdoors in the Cape. Summer is coming and I think people like being in air conditioning. I do,” he said. “We’re also planning an outside patio, which we want to build soon. We will put single and duo acts outside for those that like outside despite the weather.”
The high ceilings are great for acoustics.
“We’re going to do music Wednesdays through Sundays out of season,” he said. The restaurant is closed Mondays and may add a Tuesday entertainment show with specials.
“We’re thinking of bringing in a review-type show, different performers, not Karaoke but performers,” he said.
The exterior is hard to miss, with colorful parrots painted on the brightly colored building.
Keisha Hover-Bachman, a lead supervisor there and a local artist, painted the brightly colored mural on the front of the building.
“She did a great job,” said Costilla.
The artist said at first it was difficult painting the massive, high exterior.
“I was afraid on the ladder the first few hours and then I got used to it,” Hover-Bachman said.
She is part of the friendly, welcoming staff at the establishment. Servers said they like working there, and said it’s a nice atmosphere, especially with the bands.
When you see the building from the street, it looks like there is very little parking, but Costilla said, “We have all the parking in the world in the back.”
Special margaritas are served at the bar. The restaurant has $2 off from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., and other specials. Happy hour is 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. It has $1 drafts during happy hour, domestics. And there are lunch specials from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and discounted menu items.
Hours are Tuesdays through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., for the restaurant, the bar is open later. The restaurant is open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sundays. Closed Mondays.
Perico’s Tex Mex Bar & Grill is located at 2401 Hancock Bridge Parkway. The phone number is 656-7000. For more information, go to pericosrestaurant.com.