LIME Fresh Mexican Grill 2024: A Feast For A King

David Pettit is the visionary behind LIME Fresh Mexican Grill, which began as a single taco spot on South Beach nearly 20 years ago. With a commitment to fresh, made-from-scratch ingredients and no use of freezers or microwaves, Pettit has grown LIME into a beloved community hub known for its great food, vibrant atmosphere, and dedication to giving back through the #LIMEChipsIn program. DeliveryRank finds out more.

David, how does LIME's commitment to using fresh, locally sourced ingredients influence the menu and differentiate the brand from other Mexican grill chains?

At Lime Fresh Mexican Grill, since our inception, we have always strived to set ourselves apart by using fresh ingredients and preparing our salsa, sauces and food on a daily basis and throughout the day.  When building our menu, we’ve taken these factors into account to make sure each item can be executed in line with our high standards.  We believe Lime Fresh Mexican Grill provides customers with great food, at a great price, with great service.  It’s this combination that we believe is hard to find and sets us apart.

With nearly 20 years in the business, how has LIME Fresh Mexican Grill evolved since its start on South Beach? What have been some of the most important changes or innovations?

Lime Fresh Mexican Grill started as small fast casual Mexican restaurant on South Beach, 20 plus years ago.  It was one of the first fast casual Mexican restaurants in South Florida before fast casual was a thing.  Over the 20 plus year we’ve evolved from one store to a brand.  Each location now has a bigger footprint, more outdoor seating and over time we added more menu items while keeping the staples our guests have grown to know and love.  

Community involvement is a core value at LIME, as shown by the #LIMEChipsIn program. How have these initiatives impacted the communities you serve, and what causes are you most passionate about supporting?

Giving back has always been a core value at LIME since it’s inception.  We have been very blessed over the years, and we feel strongly about giving back to various causes in our community.  We have done this through give back nights at our restaurants, sponsorships of local schools and sports teams, as well as our annual Cinco 5K event each year around Cinco de Mayo.  The main benefactor of our 5k event is 4KIDS, a local charity that supports kids and families in crisis.  We also support many schools and sports teams as previously mentioned above.

Customization is a key part of your catering service. How can customers tailor their catering orders to fit different events or dietary preferences?

Our catering services, very much like our in-store menu, are customizable.  We strongly believe that this allows us to meet and exceed our guests’ expectations and provide for a great experience.  We are able to provide our guests with exactly what they want.  This may include our very popular taco bar or burritos in a bag.  We are also able to accommodate anything from a corporate event to a wedding.

LIME Fresh Mexican Grill operates with a "no freezers, no microwaves" philosophy. How does this approach shape the day-to-day challenges and successes in your kitchens?

Since our inception we’ve prided ourselves on this philosophy of everything being made fresh on a daily basis.  It can pose a number of challenges, but it has always been very important to have a prep person who does their job well to make sure our food is not only fresh but consistent.  Our guests have come to both love and expect fresh and delicious food each time they visit.

If you would like to find out more about LIME Fresh, please visit https://limefreshmexicangrill.com/