New eatery adds variety to traditional cuisine

Since September, Tortuga Flats Mexican Icehouse co-founders Tre Dotson and chef Octavio Benavides have been offering customers authentic Mexican dishes with a modern flair.

In 2014, Benavides said the restaurant will prioritize its menu to include more taco and burger choices as well as continue offering its more popular menu items.

"We're going to streamline," Benavides said. "We want to experiment with more global cuisine but do that with Mexican flavors as much as possible and just have fun with it."

Benavides said he now plans to have one lunch and dinner menu with rotating specials.

The menu will also include more humanely certified meats and local ingredients.

"We're passionate about having great ingredients," he said. "We want to carefully source that out."

Along with the main dining area, the restaurant features a full bar, patio and private dining room. Dotson and Benavides offer Sunday brunch and happy hour specials, and they plan to add live music on Fridays.

3107 S. I-35, Round Rock, 512-388-1445, www.tortugaflats.com, Mon.–Wed. 11 a.m.–10 p.m., Thu.–Sat. 11 a.m.–11 p.m., Sun. 10 a.m.–4 p.m.