Can Vuelo Mexican Grill Succeed Where Other Restaurants Have Failed?

Outside, it still looks pretty much the same. Inside, however, things have changed.

Walls have come down, leaving a more open, free flowing and — dare we say it — festive design.

The staff is friendlier, and already seemingly more knowledgeable.

The menu has been carefully crafted and creatively cultivated, with newer, slightly-pricier dishes promising an infusion of fresher, better and tastier ingredients. The bar is serving zippier drinks.

“It’s a new restaurant,’’ says Suzanne Deveney, who is handling public relations for Vuelo, a “new” Mexican restaurant located on Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. in the same spot as the “old” Señor T’s.

Vuelo means “flight” in Spanish, and on Oct. 25, the newest New Tampa food joint quietly took off.

Deveney has little interest in talking about Señor T’s, which had a bumpier opening. She doesn’t want to talk about the past, about the no-free-chips-and-salsa opening that seemed to scar Señor T’s from its very first moments in business, or the vicious reviews on Yelp! about everything else from bad food to shoddy service.

Many things kill restaurants, the majority of which fail before they make it to their one-year anniversary, and social media can certainly take some credit for this one.

But, owner Tom Reynolds then deserves some credit for Vuelo, which bears only a slight resemblance to its predecessor. Reynolds’ second try at a Mexican eatery in the former Macaroni Grill location shows the touches of someone not afraid to start over, and determined to not fail again.

Chef and entrepreneur Mark Estee, who has opened a handful of restaurants in Reno, NV, where he says the focus was on fresh food. Estee has made multiple appearances on the Food Network, and has been brought in to engineer Vuelo’s new concept.

He heard all about the past failures and even read some of those cringe-worthy Yelp! Reviews.

But, after weeks of studying the market by “looking, tasting and eating” what other restaurants were serving in the area, and putting more emphasis on training a new staff and incorporating a new mindset, he says he’s willing to stake his reputation on one fact: Vuelo isn’t just 100-percent better than Señor T’s, it’s 150-percent better.

“Great food is simple — make it fresh, from scratch,’’ Estee says. “We’ve put some care into turning this puppy around. The flavors are authentic Mexican-Latin, and they are delicious.”

The menu is filled with new and different things, but not overwhelmingly so.

There are a dozen appetizers to choose from, from simple guacamole and chips or quesadillas to oven roasted shishito peppers and cast iron cauliflower.

There are seven different kinds of Street Tacos, including Beef Lengua, or cow tongue, for the more adventurous eater.

The Bubbling Molcajete bowls are served with bay scallops, catfish and snapper; filet mignon or charred vegetables.

There are burritos and enchiladas, tortas (basically Spanish sandwiches) and create-your-own-lunch specials. There’s also a great bar Happy Hour and a new drink menu with a variety of beers and margaritas, including a spicy jalapeno margarita with the salted rim of the glass adorned with a jalapeno pepper.

And,, if you need any more proof that Estee gets it, consider this: the chips and salsa are not only free, there’s even a salsa bar with six different fresh, homemade salsas.

“We’re pretty proud of that,’’ Estee says with a smile. “It allows people to customize their experience.”

Estee was brought in for what can best be described as a restaurant reclamation project, and he started by discarding every microwave oven in the kitchen, and there were many. A wall separating the bar from the rest of the restaurant was removed to create a more open design, and the decor has a more authentic feel.

Deveney doesn’t see the success of Vuelo tied to those who were disappointed by Señor T’s giving it a second chance, because she doesn’t see this as a rebranding.

But, that’s what a majority of the customers are likely to believe. Those who have returned seem to be liking what they are experiencing, with unanimously positive reviews so far on Yelp!

So far, that makes everyone a winner.

Customers get their fresh food and Vuelo gets its fresh start.

Vuelo is located at 17641 Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd.,. For more info, visit VueloMexicanGrill.com or call 972-4800.