When I say “fast-casual Latin food,” you immediately think of…Chipotle. In five years, serial entrepreneur Steele Smiley hopes you’ll also think: Puralima.
Saturday, Smiley will open his latest franchise brand, Puralima Cantina, in the same North Loop building that houses his vegetarian Stalk & Spade. His salad chain Crisp & Green has been the greatest success, closing in on 100 restaurants around the country. Puralima is the first brand to not have an ampersand in the title, and I just tasted through some of the menu with Steele Brands partner and Crisp & Green co-founder Lily Smith, plus chief culinary officer Bill Fairbanks.
“I spent years working at Barrio before I came to join Steele,” says Fairbanks. “I love these flavors and have been thinking about these combinations for decades.”
The concept here is: quick, fresh, and made from scratch. So, they’re roasting tomatillos and guajillo peppers and garlic and making salsas in the shop every morning. They’re slow-cooking barbacoa overnight and marinating chicken in achiote and adobo. They’ve done fresh at Crisp & Green – this could be a differentiator.
I was excited about the ahi tuna protein choice. I had it with napa cabbage, pickled onion, cashew crema, and the smoky guajillo salsa. An order will come with three tacos. Fantastic, lively, bright flavors.
I tried a cauliflower al pastor for a veg option, too: pineapple pico de gallo and queso fresco on that. The adobo spiced chicken had a nice char on it from the grill—great flavor from the marinade, too.
You pick your vessel (taco, burrito, bowl, or salad), your protein, and three toppings—and you’re set. The prices are designed to match Chipotle’s price range, too (veggie is $8.50; chicken and carnitas, $9.50; steak and barbacoa, $10.50; tuna, $13.75), ideally to entice people to try something different.
The North Loop location will be open late, as well—Thursday through Saturday until midnight. So you can pop in, have some chips and guac and a Casamigos margarita (on tap), or one of the non-alcoholic limeades, and refuel before heading back into the clubs.
Puralima Cantina, 548 N. Washington Ave., Suite 103, Minneapolis, puralima.com
Grand opening is Saturday July 8, 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. You can get a free taco, burrito, salad, or bowl of your choice.
