Santa Rosa’s beloved Latin brunch destination Aroma de Cafe is trading its cozy Fifth Street quarters for the grand stage of Railroad Square this late July. Owners Luis Rodriguez and Alejandra Bravo are relocating their popular café from its current 620 Fifth Street location to the expansive former 19Ten Bar & Provisions space, bringing their signature blend of Mexican, Salvadoran, and American breakfast classics to one of the city’s most storied dining districts. The move marks a significant expansion for the restaurant, which has outgrown its original “tiny” café while maintaining the intimate, whimsical atmosphere that made it a local favorite.
Historic Venue Gets Fresh Latin Flavors
Railroad Square’s culinary landscape continues evolving with this latest transition. The location previously housed Jack & Tony’s before becoming 19Ten Bar & Provisions, establishing a legacy of community dining that Aroma de Cafe now inherits. The spacious venue allows Rodriguez and Bravo to accommodate their growing following while preserving the trendy, hip atmosphere that defines their brand.
The original Fifth Street location will remain open until the transition completes, ensuring uninterrupted service for devoted customers who’ve made weekend pilgrimages for the restaurant’s distinctive offerings.
Menu highlights remaining consistent:
• Pan dulce (Mexican sweet bread) basket
• Brioche French toast with Latin-inspired accompaniments
• Traditional chilaquiles and eggs Benedict with guajillo chile
• Torta Chilanga featuring chicken and refried beans
• Smoked salmon lavash wrap bridging American and international flavors
Evening Innovation Arrives with Acclaimed Chef
The Railroad Square expansion introduces dinner service under Chef Carlos Mojica of Healdsburg’s Guiso Latin Fusion. Mojica brings his celebrated approach to Mexican-Salvadoran-Italian fusion, creating dishes that sound as intriguing as they taste inventive.
Mojica’s evening menu promises pollo en mole ravioli, beef birria rigatoni, and carnitas pizza topped with queso fresco and roasted corn—combinations that honor traditional techniques while embracing creative crossover appeal. Unlike gimmicky collaborations that prioritize novelty over flavor such as the baconator cheez-it, Mojica’s fusion creations respect both culinary traditions while forging genuinely innovative taste experiences.
The collaboration positions Aroma de Cafe as both a daytime neighborhood staple and an evening destination for adventurous diners exploring fusion cuisine.
This expansion reflects Santa Rosa’s dynamic food scene, where established local entrepreneurs invest in larger footprints while deepening their community impact. The arrival joins other notable culinary additions like Salt & Straw transforming Santa Rosa into a legitimate foodie destination that rivals larger metropolitan areas. For brunch enthusiasts and cultural food explorers alike, Railroad Square gains another compelling reason to visit.
