Benito's Hat to open first venture outside of London

Benito's Hat is set to open its first site outside of London this month in the newly refurbished Westgate Social Shopping Centre in Oxford.

It joins a portfolio of six other restaurants in London's Covent Garden, Oxford Circus, Goodge Street; Farringdon, Kings Cross and Bromley.

Head chef and co-founder Felipe Fuentes Cruz uses seasonal ingredients to create a constantly changing menu which includes burritos, tacos, antojitos (Mexican light bites), tres leches (three milk) cake and salads.

Drinks on offer include frozen margaritas, Mexican beers, soft drinks and homemade Agua Frescas such as limeade, hibiscus and horchata.

Founder Ben Fordham said: "Oxford Westgate is our first restaurant outside of London and the first Benito’s Hat opening for over two years. After a very successful consolidating year in 2016 we targeted Oxford as the one site we wanted to do this year as we look to grow again. It is a small format site, at only 500sq ft., which is an avenue that we will look to explore further in the coming years but we will still be able to serve all of our authentic, fresh food and, of course, margaritas. The addition of locally roasted UE coffee is something we are excited about as well as expanding our quesadilla menu."

Benito’s Hat opened its first site on Goodge Street in 2007. The brand is named after Mexican politician Benito Juárez - the only full-blooded Zapotec native to serve as president in Mexico.

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