New Mexican restaurant on Archer opened Monday

When searching for the perfect burrito, Gainesville students and locals now have one more restaurant to choose from.

Costa Vida Fresh Mexican Grill, a restaurant franchise based in Utah, opened for business Monday at its new location on Archer Road.

The restaurant, located at 3581 SW Archer Road, is the first of its kind in Florida, although another location will be built on West University Avenue next year, said Brad Slaughter, an operations partner.

It is open from 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. on weekdays and from 10:30 p.m. to midnight on the weekend. The restaurant will hold a grand opening Sept. 24. Starting at 10:30 a.m., the first 100 customers in line will receive free burritos for a year, Slaughter said.

Costa Vida’s menu is influenced by Baja California and Mexican flavors, Slaughter said. The food uses fresh ingredients, which include tortillas and salsa made at the restaurant daily.

The average price of a meal and drink is $10, and protein options include grilled chicken and steak along with shrimp, sweet pork and raspberry chicken.

“We’re not just your other common burrito place,” Slaughter said. “(Burritos are) the ooey-gooey feel-good food.”

On Monday, about 200 people visited the restaurant, he said.

“Everybody was very happy with the product,” he said. “Gainesville’s been growing and we definitely identified that and wanted to be part of that growth.”

Mike Hanna, a 23-year-old UF alumnus, said the friendly service, cheap prices and large, diverse portions made it the perfect fit for him.

“Here they have a lot more options,” Hanna said after ordering a sweet pork burrito. “It’s like a firework explosion in your mouth.”