Upclose: Cabo Fresh California Mexican Grill

In 2011, James DiVilio Founder and Executive Chairman of Emerging Hospitality Group established Cabo Fresh California Mexican Grill as a­ fast-casual Cal-Mex themed healthy eatery, inspired by the vibrant flavors of California cuisine. As Mr. DiVilio tells me, “our goal has always been to prioritize real fresh food that’s both flavorful and quickly served, making the dining experience healthy, easy, accessible, and affordable for everyone. We have created a menu that sets us apart from the crowded fast casual Mexican segment”. Cabo Fresh offers many choices with a variety of proteins that include seared rock shrimp, ahi tuna, and vegan chorizo. They also offer real fruit smoothies which are sweetened with organic blue agave. Some of their most popular items include the Cabo Classic Chicken Burrito, Birria Tacos and Korean BBQ tacos with house made pickled onions. Cabo Fresh’s incredible catering has options that will transform your next event into a full blown FIESTA that your guests will rave about.”

Four decades as a serial entrepreneur, James acquired a keen sense of how to operate multi-unit, multi-concept restaurants. However, with a high sense of pride, Mr. DiVillo makes it clear, that the success of the Cabo Fresh brand could never have become a reality without incredible dedication, hard work and tireless perseverance of his wife Diana and two sons Anthony and Jim, all who have many years mastering every aspect of the restaurant industry. According to Mr. DiVillo, “w­e operate as a team and each of us possess a unique skill set that covers every aspect of the operation. This combination of vision, talent and dedication is what continues to move this company forward. It is our mission to continuously refine this concept, making it better every day  and inevitably become a national brand.”

“We are blessed to have amazing managers and crew that are top in the industry”. The DiVilio family has nurtured a culture that has established a set of guiding principles, central to the success of the Cabo Fresh brand. These principles ensure that Cabo Fresh consistently delivers an outstanding dining experience that has established a standard of excellence in everything they do.

Cabo Fresh takes pride in preparing their dishes from scratch every single day, featuring all-natural ingredients and recipes. During our interview, as I passed through the kitchen, the alluring aroma of freshly marinated chicken thighs hitting the grill clearly exemplifies the “Fresh” in Cabo.

As Mr. DiVillio explains, “The secret to our exceptional food lies in what we intentionally avoid. By preparing our dishes fresh daily, we season our meats, seafood, and vegetables lightly. Everything we serve is cooked shortly before being delivered, which allows the inherent freshness of our ingredients to stand out.” Furthermore, a manager proudly shared that even their corn tortilla chips and taco shells are made fresh throughout the day on-site.”

The DiVillio family and their Cabo Fresh restaurants believe in the power of people and have made it their mission to remain connected with their team, suppliers, customers, and local communities to create a positive impact.

Cabo Fresh is more than just a restaurant, it’s a philosophy that ensures a rewarding growth experience for every team member that reflects directly upon the thousands of customers that have become loyalists to the Cabo Fresh movement.­