January 1, 2018, marked Fiesta Bonita’s fifth anniversary of dishing up great Mexican cuisine and exemplary service to the Ponderay community. And when the opportunity arose for a second location in Sandpoint, owner Rosalio Ibarra and his business partners jumped on it, and this past December, they opened Fiesta Bonita at 202 North Second Avenue in Downtown Sandpoint.
In addition to a menu filled with authentic Mexican comida—think mole, homemade tamales and chile rellenos—and beer and wine offerings, the new location offers more space to host large groups for any special occasion.
When dining at either location, Rosalio and his team strive to create an atmosphere where everyone feels at home. “We try to make our customers feel happy, comfortable, and try to give them the best,” he says. “People who work for me, everyone from the dishwasher to the server, do their best in order to offer the best to our customers.”
When it comes to the success of Fiesta Bonita, Rosalio believes that having a staff that truly loves what they do enables them to be successful. “We really like what we do, and we try to make everyone else like what they do, and we have been doing pretty well to ensure that happens.”
Rosalio finds his job fulfilling for several reasons. “We have really reliable customers because I love to take care of my customers. I love what I do, and everyone who works for me feels the same way. We make it fun instead of work. For me, I always like to make it feel like I’m doing something I really like and try not to make it a chore. Each day I come to work, I’m going to go have fun.”
Rosalio and his family moved to the area five years ago from Oregon after purchasing Fiesta Bonita from the previous owner. Rosalio knew it was a great restaurant location surrounded by a wonderful community. And, when it comes to supporting the community that has supported him over the years, Rosalio gives whenever he can. “When I give, it comes from my heart. The guy up there is helping me, and I do what I can to try and help others.”
He is grateful for the support he has received since becoming a part of the community, both personally and professionally. “Everyone that brought us to where we are right now are family, staff, employees and, most importantly, my customers. Without my help, without my family, without my business partners, I could not do any of this,” he says. “I want to thank all of my customers and hope they had a merry Christmas and happy New Year. Thank you for your support. And thank you to my staff and family. Without you, none of this could happen.”
Rosalio and his staff invite you to dine with them, and they are ready to serve you the best! Both locations are open seven days a week 11am to 9pm. Salud!
Fiesta Bonita
TWO Locations
202 North Second Avenue
Sandpoint, Idaho 83864
208.265.4149
700 Kootenai Cut Off Road
Ponderay, Idaho 83852
208.263.6174