Santa Fe Restaurant & Bar is bringing authentic Mexican cuisine to one of the fastest-growing residential areas in Northwest Indiana.
The new sit-down restaurant opens Monday at 14825 101st Ave. in unincorporated Dyer, just east of Guacamole restaurant.
“I think you’ll find it to be one of the finest new restaurants in Northwest Indiana,” said consultant Fred Goebel, who assisted with the opening. “It’s going to be a high-end restaurant, one of the nicest new restaurants. You’re going to want to check it out.”
The 5,500-square-foot restaurant will seat about 180 to 200 diners. It will serve traditional Mexican fare like carne asade, tamales and tacos.
“It’s not a taqueria,” Goebel said. “It’s a beautiful restaurant with a full bar.”
Santa Fe Restaurant & Bar occupies one of three spaces in a new strip mall on busy 101st Avenue, which turns into a 55 mph highway in neighboring Will County in Illinois.
“There’s a ton of traffic in the early evening and late afternoon,” he said. “Many people live in Northwest Indiana but work in the city. A lot of homes have been going up there but most of the restaurants are still on U.S. 41 or the square in Crown Point. It’s a unique location. A lot of residential there can support it.”
Owner Rafael Gonzalez hails from Indianapolis. He said the sit-down restaurant would specialize in fajitas, enchiladas and burritos. It will offer sit-down dining and takeout.
“We may eventually have delivery but want to take it kind of slow at first,” he said.
The restaurant will employ about 20 to 25 workers to start. It will have a full bar with a variety of margaritas, tequila, beer and wine.
“It’s going to be a very nice restaurant,” he said. “There are a lot of homes around here and people moving into the neighborhood. We picked a spot and are going to make it work. It’s called Santa Fe because there’s a Santa Fe in Mexico and a Santa Fe in America. I really like the name. It’s a good name.”
Santa Fe Restaurant & Bar will be open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, from 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Saturday and from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sunday.
For more information, call 219-351-5916.