First look: Clase Azul is an upscale Mexican restaurant in Cape Coral
New restaurant on Del Prado Boulevard features all the flavors of Mexico, served in a modern, upscale setting
Franklin Andrade had been looking everywhere — Savannah, Georgia; Hilton Head, South Carolina; Tampa and Port St. Lucie.
After helping open 13 restaurants in north Florida, he was ready to branch out independently.
“It’s hard for someone who hasn’t been an owner,” he said. “When my cousin called to wish my wife a happy birthday, I said, ‘When are we going to do something?’”
That’s when his cousin asked him if he had tried Cape Coral.
“He said he didn’t see my concept anywhere here,” Andrade said. “That night I started searching and found three places.”
One was Ichiyummy’s former space on Del Prado Boulevard that had stood vacant since 2023.
Clase Azul opened Jan. 25
When he learned how spacious the building was and how busy Del Prado gets, he “contacted the owner that Monday.”
“I drove from Jacksonville right away and met with him on Wednesday,” Andrade said. “He said he would think about it and I got it the next day. We reached a deal on June 10 and signed on July 1.”
His concept came to fruition on Saturday, Jan. 25, when he opened Clase Azul. A brand of luxury tequila, it’s the perfect name for Andrade’s restaurant.
“The concept is an upscale Mexican restaurant,” he said. “Everything is homemade, fresh. We make it all and we know what we’re doing. I brought my whole kitchen staff from Jacksonville.”
The recipes, Andrade said, are from all around Mexico.
“Our dishes represent every state in Mexico,” he said. “The border had its own recipes. Mexico City has its own. We really try to incorporate one or two dishes from everywhere. It is all the flavors of Mexico.”
Extensive menu offers fair prices, owner says
Enchiladas ($11.50 to $14.50) — including chicken & spinach, verdes, shrimp and carnitas — are Andrade’s favorite. The Don Marquez ($35.99), a skirt steak with lemon garlic shrimp, Mexican rice, refried beans and a chicken enchilada, has been popular with customers, as have the quesadillas and street tacos.
Our goat cheese jalapenos ($11) wrapped in bacon and skinny taco ($7.50) — with steak, pico, guac and cheese on a cheese shell — were flavorful and freshly fantastic.
“We really have an extensive menu,” Andrade said. “And the prices for the kind of elevated food and drinks we serve are really fair.”
Appetizers (think pork belly bites, sopes, tostadas, club samplers and more), salads, nachos, soups are offered along with ceviches, burritos, chimichangas, several tacos, birria (in a variety of forms) and fajitas round out the menu.
A lunch menu is served until 3 p.m. and happy hour is 3-6 p.m. There’s also a kids menu, mocktails and a create-your-own combo section.
Enjoy it all in a sleek, worldy blue-and-white-tiled upscale setting where murals, sepia photos, greenery, colorful pottery and, of course, clase azul bottles, tie it all together. The large space is broken up into smaller seating areas and a private room for events, while the bar area is a comfortable inviting delight.
“We redid everything inside,” Andrade said. “It took six months.”
Although it just opened, Clase Azul is quickly finding its footing.
“We invite the community to come join us,” Andrade said. “Come celebrate with your families. We’re happy to host everyone here.”
Clase Azul, 3922 Del Prado Blvd. S, Cape Coral; open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday to Thursday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday; reservations accepted; (239) 471-0338, follow on Facebook and Instagram
Robyn George is a food and dining reporter for The News-Press. Connect at rhgeorge@gannett.com