Santana opens restaurant in Tempe

Guitarist Carlos Santana and chef Roberto Santibañez have opened their María María restaurant in the Tempe Marketplace. This is the second location of Maria Maria, which opened last fall in Walnut Creek, Calif. The grand opening celebration was held during the Cinco de Mayo weekend. Santibañez previously was culinary director for Rosa Mexicano Restaurant Group, with locations including New York City and Washington, D.C. Music fans will know the name Santana from a musical career that spans decades and may recall “Maria Maria” is the name of a popular hit released at the beginning of the decade. The duo’s restaurant was created to give diners the sensation of Mexico’s Pacific Coast region with a mix of tradition and flavor from the freshest ingredients. The restaurant offers a variety of indoor and outdoor areas, including a covered patio.