Ava McDonnell
On Thursday, March 5, at 4 p.m., Orlando’s dining scene will turn louder and brighter with the opening of Fat Rosie’s Taco & Tequila Bar in Waterford Lakes Town Center. Marking the Mexican restaurant’s first location outside of Illinois, the opening will offer a fiesta filled with music, mariachi performances, giveaways, exclusive merch, and a high-energy atmosphere.
Fat Rosie’s began not as a corporate idea, but as a personal promise. In 2015, Chicago chef and restaurateur Scott Harris, well known in the Midwest hospitality scene, drew inspiration from a memorable encounter during a trip to Mexico. There, he met an agave farmer and his donkey, Rosie, a reliable companion in the fields. The bond between them and the vibrant spirit of Mexican food and culture left a lasting impression on Harris. In honor of that experience, he decided to open a restaurant… and Fat Rosie’s was born.
From its first location in Frankfort, Illinois, the concept quickly expanded across the Chicago area. It grew into a beloved taqueria and tequila bar with multiple locations in Naperville, Schaumburg, Lincolnshire, Lincolnwood, Oak Brook, Rosemont, and now Orlando. Each venue blends its flavors with colorful design, custom artwork from Mexico, and a party-ready attitude.
In March 2024, the brand transitioned under new ownership when the Mas Mex restaurant group acquired the concept. While Harris maintained a role in its growth, Mas Mex has helped guide Fat Rosie’s toward more expansion while preserving the original spirit.
More than a place to eat, Fat Rosie’s presents itself as a celebration destination. Its menu is made up of scratch-made dishes that honor Mexican influence with a contemporary twist, including authentic regional tacos, fajitas, creamy queso fundido, Mexican street corn, and churros for dessert. The bar is equally spirited, with house-mixed Ass-Kickin’ Margaritas made with 100 % blue agave, seasonal craft cocktails, and playful finishing touches like tequila shot airplanes that add to the festive vibe.
Inside each location, guests enter an environment with vivid decor, sombreros, vibrant murals, and even occasional surprises that bring the “Fluent in Fiesta” motto to life.
Waterford Lakes: A Fiesta in Central Florida
The new Waterford Lakes location is a 6,675-square-foot space at 749 N. Alafaya Trail. Open daily with brunch, lunch, dinner, and evening drink service, the restaurant will fill a lively niche in one of Central Florida’s most dynamic shopping and entertainment districts.
As the doors open this Thursday, Fat Rosie’s invites guests to savor the moment and raise a glass in true Fluent in Fiesta™ style, to the start of a new flavor in Orlando’s dining scene.
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