New Fairview Heights restaurant fuses American, Mexican and Indian flavors

Fusion Bar & Restaurant in Fairview Heights is open for business.

The new restaurant, located at 200 Lincoln Highway, serves up classic American food items and a lot of Mexican flavors. It also will serve Indian dishes.

More on that in a minute.

Located in the former Show-Me’s restaurant, Fusion held a soft opening in mid-April. The grand opening is Friday, May 5.

Manager Hari Garimella said he and owner Sri Anne spent the last nine months rebuilding the space from scratch. I have to say, it’s pretty nice.

Upon entering, I was met with the sound of a sizzling skillet as a customer received his lunch order.

It smelled pretty great too (high praise from someone who doesn’t even eat meat).

The customer was seated at the end of the bar, behind which is a row of beer taps and bottles of spirits.

Opposite the bar is a seating area with regular and bar-height tables.

At the front end of the building, there’s an area with video gaming machines.

There’s another dining area at the back of the building with a really nice stone wall and fireplace.

It has a bit of an old lodge feeling about it, which I really liked.

The booths are spacious. Most have benches long enough to fit three people. There are a few smaller booths roomy enough for two (or four, if you have littles).

TVs are mounted on the walls in both dining areas and above the bar.

There’s also a nice covered patio just off the back of the building.

The Show-Me’s signs are affixed to the walls as a nod to the old place and its regulars.

What about the food?

Now for the part I know you’ve been waiting for: What’s on the menu?

As I mentioned, Fusion offers up American, Mexican and Indian eats. And the food is made by the main chef, Oscar Esquivel, who has 30 years of experience in the restaurant biz, including owning a restaurant in Mexico.

So surely he knows what he’s doing.

For starters, there are wings (bone-in and boneless) with six different sauce options: plain, barbecue, buffalo, habanero, guacamole and chipotle.

Garimella said 10 more sauces are coming soon and will include some savory Indian flavors.

Quesadillas (pick your protein, or go with the veggie option) and five kinds(!) of nachos are also on the menu.

Then you have the American burger (lettuce, tomato, American cheese), the Mexican burger (lettuce, tomato, red onion, mozzarella, fried jalapeños, avocado) and a BBQ burger (lettuce, tomato, red onion and pepper jack cheese).

Not in the mood for a burger? No problem.

Order one of the six sandwiches or a wrap instead. Or go for some street tacos, which are never a bad idea.

If these hand-held options aren’t your jam, go all in with one of the dinner entrées.

Here are some examples:

• Camarones a la Diabla: a dozen shrimp cooked with a “special spicy house sauce” and served with rice, salad and tortillas;

• Camarones Al Mojo de Ajo: a mild version of the above dish;

• Bisteck Adobado: guajillo marinated pork steak served with beans and rice;

• Alahambre: marinated steak, pepper, onions, mozzarella cheese, lettuce, pico de gallo, guac, salsa and tortillas served with beans and rice;

• Arroz Con Vegetables: grilled chicken and mixed veggies, parmesan cheese and avocado served on a bed of veggies.

What comes next

Wait, what about the Indian dishes?

Anne and Garimella both said they are easing into their menu and will slowly introduce the Indian items starting next month.

Garimella said items would include tandoori chicken, butter chicken, samosas, biryani rice and a mango lassi, which is a drink typically made with yogurt, heavy cream or milk, sugar, cardamom and, of course, mango.

I’m sure the Indian items will be great. After all, Garimella has six years experience as manager of a popular Indian restaurant across the river.

He didn’t want to give that restaurant’s name since it’s a franchise, but he did tell me off the record.

I checked out their menu, so I’m pretty optimistic about what Fusion will soon have for us.

Anne and Garimella are already planning for the long run and hope that by the end of the year they will be able to stay open 24 hours a day.

When that happens, breakfast will be added to the menu. Because who doesn’t love breakfast?

About Fusion Bar & Restaurant

Fusion Bar & Restaurant is located at 200 Lincoln Highway in Fairview Heights.

Hours are 11 a.m. to midnight Sunday-Thursday and 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. Friday-Saturday.

For updates and info about Fusion, call 618-206-8868 or check out the Facebook page.