Get ready, SLO. A new customizable quesadilla restaurant is coming to town
A booming Central Coast restaurant group is adding yet another brand to its roster, this time with an early November launch of the new Press Quesadilla Grill in San Luis Obispo’s Foothill Square.
Heritage Restaurant Brands already oversees 47 franchised eateries with open restaurants in California, Nevada and Texas under the brands of Huckleberry’s, Cool Hand Luke’s Steakhouse Saloon and Perko’s Cafe Grill, with more coming in those states and Arizona.
Now Heritage is adding Press Quesadilla Grill’s new “California Coastal Fresh” take on casual dining to the parent firm’s existing lineup.
Heritage has Huckleberry’s restaurants in Atascadero, Pismo Beach and Santa Maria and Cool Hand Luke’s in Paso Robles and Santa Maria.
What is Press QG’s California coastal fresh cuisine?
PressQG, as it’s often referred to, offers a unique blend of Cali-Mexican specialties with a twist, chef-inspired bowl fare and healthy eating, according to Heritage CEO Greg Graber.
“It’s honest food, protein packed and fresh,” he said. “It’s completely optimizable. Customers can pick and choose the fresh ingredients they want and how they want it served to them.”
PressQG’s cuisine will be gently zesty, but not so spicy that it brings tears to your eyes or sweat to your brow. Diners who want a flame-thrower level of heat can add it in the form of one of the authentic fire-grilled salsas and sauces.
Steak in a quesadilla? Yes. Chicken? Pork? Yes and yes. Vegetables and vegetarian? Of course, Graber said.
“It’s good mood food, and it’s really fun,” he said.
The menu will include such niceties as grilled proteins infused with savory citrus and herb flavors and made-from-scratch tortillas pressed by hand daily in house.
The options will be served in bowls, salads, burritos, nachos or the namesake quesadillas (which they call ‘dias), each of which can be totally customized for every diner.
The price point was expected to be between $10 and $13, Graber said.
At the Foothill Square spot, located at 773 Foothill Blvd., Heritage was totally redoing the inside of the previously empty space, with the work about 60% complete as of late September, he said.
Signs were up, proclaiming what’s ahead, and there was a full court press to get things up and running for a soft opening, possibly as early as Nov. 4.
Restaurant group has philanthropic arm
PressQG has a dedicated philanthropic side built into its culture, which should please customers who seek a commitment to public service at the businesses they patronize.
“We wanted to represent the Central Coast, building in a mechanism to give back as we press on,” Graber said.
A portion of PressQG’s eventual franchise royalties will be donated to the new Live Life Press On Foundation, a nonprofit that was trademarked by Heritage in May.
The foundation supports charitable entities and projects that are dedicated to enhancing the lives of individuals who “press on” through challenging circumstances.
Those can include needing food, clothing or shelter; being in recovery; needing protection or increased safety; facing unforeseen tragedy; or being in need of spiritual guidance and direction.
6 local partners guide Heritage, now launching its fourth brand
The name Heritage Restaurant Brands reflects the corporation’s culture and history, Graber said.
The firm launched in October 2016 with three original partners buying three existing restaurant brands, the ones the corporation currently has.
All of the partners live in San Luis Obispo County, and they share separate ownership of the San Luis Obispo Press QG.
“The only thing better than living the dream is sharing it,” Graber said.
