After nearly six years of business in Tomball, Cisco’s Salsa Company decided to bring its California-style Mexican cuisine to a second location in Magnolia. Owners Laura Wilson and Dennis Henderson opened Cisco’s Baja Grill & Cantina on FM 2978 last fall.

Dennis Henderson and Laura Wilson opened Cisco’s Baja Grill & Cantina last fall on FM 2978 in Magnolia.[/caption]

“My family has owned Mexican restaurants in Southern California for 40 years, and when we had moved here over 20 years ago, we had really missed the food from back home,” Wilson said.

Inspired by the Baja-style Mexican flavors of California, Wilson said the dishes at Cisco’s likely differ from the Tex-Mex fare typically served in the area.

“We like to feed you what we would want to eat ourselves, so it’s a lot cleaner, more real food,” Wilson said. “We have a lot more fresh produce and seafood, and we use higher-grade products just to start with.”

The Mexican martini ($9) features agave tequila and is served with a cocktail shaker.[/caption]

While the menu does feature dishes likely familiar to diners in the area, such as enchiladas, tacos, fajitas and burritos, Cisco’s offers more seafood elements—such as mahi-mahi, ceviche and shrimp—to offer more variety in flavors.

“We like to say we’re more than Mexican,” Henderson said. “We don’t want to be your favorite Mexican restaurant; we want to be your favorite restaurant.”

Cisco’s full bar includes signature cocktails and margaritas, which are also subject to the restaurant’s strict quality standards, Wilson said.

The certified Angus steak Tampiquena ($20.95) features a 10-ounce rib-eye steak and two sides.[/caption]

“We have a 100 percent agave tequila selection for our margaritas. If it’s not 100 percent agave, it’s not in this restaurant,” she said. “We have a craft-type cocktail program, which is not very common in your typical Mexican restaurants.”

The restaurant also features a large patio with live music on Fridays and Saturdays, a concept brought over from Cisco’s Tomball location. Wilson said the outdoor area has been a hit with Magnolia customers.

“The outdoor patio is a big part of our concept,” Wilson said. “We want you to feel like you’re on vacation when you come to Cisco’s.”

Cisco’s Baja Grill & Cantina
32823 FM 2978, Ste. A, Magnolia
832-521-5789
www.ciscosalsa.com
Hours: Tue.-Thu. 11 a.m.-9 p.m., Fri.-Sat. 11 a.m.-10 p.m., Sun. 10:30 a.m.-3 p.m., closed Mondays