Business of the Week: CT Cantina & Taqueria Trilith Square

The foundation of CT Cantina and Taqueria at Trilith Square in Fayetteville has deep familial roots in Jalisco, Mexico.

The owner of CT Cantina & Taqueria, Rafael Jamie came to the US from his hometown of Jalisco with his brother in the summer of 1979.  With only hope and a promise to send money back home, they began working their way to achieve their American dream.

Rafael’s restaurant career began in Chamblee, GA when he started as a dishwater at popular Mexican Restaurant, El Toro.  He was laser-focused, lightning fast, had a deep appreciation for the customer service experience, and was an unstoppable go-getter. He worked in every job of the restaurant and quickly moved up the ranks, becoming a revered manager. 

  For the next five years, Rafael was such an impressive leader, that El Toro made him a partner in their newest restaurant.  He used this opportunity to open several other restaurants as a partner in the El Toro group.

  Rafael’s reputation for creating and running restaurants that serve great food with top notch service was undeniable.  Although his other restaurants were all casual Tex-Mex spots, together with his family, he launched his first modern Mexican restaurant with a beautiful aesthetic, CT Cantina and Taqueria. 

Rafael employed Restaurant Consulting Group to design the Trilith Square CT Cantina and Taqueria, creating an inviting restaurant that was rich in atmosphere, featuring fine Mexican elements with a grand movie themed vibe. The Trilith Square CT location opened in October of 2023 and was immediately popular with locals and those filming at Trilith Studios.

Recreating the flavors of his childhood has always been Rafael’s mission at CT Cantina & Taqueria.  He has a full-time staff member making fresh chips and tortillas throughout the day and evening in-house and insists on serving street tacos the way they are enjoyed in Mexico – simply with fresh cilantro, onions and salsa.  

Some of CT Cantina & Taqueria’s most popular dishes include their Jalisco Burrito, Carne Asada and authentic Enchiladas and Street Tacos, which can be personalized with more than a dozen freshly prepared proteins.

Although the majority of recipes were created by Rafael, he brought on Executive Chef Alfonso Gonzalez for his array of talents, including his recipe development, stunning presentations, and specialized training as a Pastry Chef.  Chef Alfonso creates all of the desserts served at CT Taqueria from scratch, with the most popular being Tres Leches, Mango Cheesecake and Flan.

As Rafael’s hometown of Jalisco is also the birthplace of Tequila, the restaurants serve a large selection of the finest, premium Tequilas.  Their innovative cocktail program, which features an extensive line up of Zero Proof Cocktails, utilizes only freshly squeezed limes, agave and juices. Their Watermelon Basil and Blood Orange Margaritas are among the most popular.

Rafael created CT Cantina and Taqueria as a family legacy, and as such each of his five children play a pivotal role in the success of the business, from managing strategic operations, guest experience, finance and philanthropy. 

For more information about CT Cantina and Taqueria, please visit www.cttacos.com.