Rosie will be on vacation until mid-March. Guest blogger Tammy LaGorce will post in her place, unless otherwise noted.
For years, Tito’s Burritos has been satisfying a need for anything involving fresh salsa and tortillas in Summit. But Rosalita, a new 50-seat spot a few blocks away from Tito’s, proves that Japanese restaurants aren’t the only type that can do a brisk business in town when they’ve got competition.
It hasn’t been open a month, but the place is swarming with hungry patrons, both at lunchtime and on weekend evenings. The space, a former deli, is clean, spare and masculine looking, with the usual ceiling-strung Christmas lights that restaurateurs seem to feel is endemic to and evocative of Mexico. The menu has a few nice surprises: in addition to the usual chips and guac (creamy and nicely flavored with cilantro here, $10), appetizers include Mexican street corn with cotija cheese and chipotle crema ($6) and spicy tuna nachos with grilled green onions and chipotle mayo ($16). The dessert menu, too, contains a few unfamiliar-sounding treats, like Xango ($7), a “fried cheesecake burrito” that tasted less like a burrito than a churro stuffed with heavenly sweet cream cheese. Salads, which are big, lean American, with a classic Caesar ($10) and a pan-seared salmon with baby kale and mango ($15). Main dishes, including tacos ($12 – $15), enchiladas ($14) and quesadillas ($10 -$14) also are served in heaping helpings. Chicken is not the strong suit here—we tried it in several dishes and wished for more flavor—but the skirt steak was tender and nicely spiced in all we sampled. Bring the family, and some Dos Equis.
Rosalita Mexican Restaurant
10 Maple St.
Summit
908-598-9200
BYO