New Bedford Welcomes New Restaurant to Goulart Square

NEW BEDFORD, Mass. — New Bedford city officials joined legislators and restaurant owners to celebrate the opening of Fresca Grill recently. As the name indicates, the focus of the new restaurant is to provide the freshest of ingredients at an affordable price to its valued guests.
The restaurant is owned by husband and wife team, Chef Victor and Deanna Vieira.
“The Fresca Grill started with a concept of fresh food from farm to table, from seed to plate,” explained Chef Vieira. “We try to use everything fresh. We also try to utilize as much as possible such as local produce, fish and meat. We use only certified angus beef, free range chicken, and wild caught fish. We want to give our guests only the best for a reasonable price.”
Chef Vieira was born in Murtosa, Portugal. He attended Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical High School where he developed his love for cooking and met his wife, Deanna. In his early twenties, Vieira moved to Florida where he ventured into southern style cooking. From Florida, he continued his learning experience in Barbados, the West Indies and then back to Florida where he acquired an Italian style for cooking. After opening a restaurant in New York for his employers, Vieira returned home to New England where he took the role as executive chef at the Radisson Hotel and then the Sheraton Hotel.
In 2002, he was given the opportunity to open his own restaurant, Ellie’s Place in Westport. After a successful seven year venture as owners of Ellie’s Place, the Vieiras have relocated to New Bedford. The Fresca Grill opened in June.
“Our restaurant is located in a historic storefront, built in 1912,” said Vieira. “It provides a comfortable, family oriented atmosphere, combined with an elegant ambiance that features a chic, copper-finished bar that compliments the restaurants contemporary décor.”
The new restaurant holds 98 guests, which is almost doubles the capacity of Ellie’s Place.
September 25, 2009
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