Serving a fusion of foods based on the classic cuisine of Mexico, Kahlo Exotic Grill brings flavors well beyond the ordinary to downtown Medford.

The restaurant opened in March at 44 S. Central Ave., the space formerly occupied by BricktownE. It offers a wide range of Mexican fusion dishes that range from classics, such as tacos al pastor and pan de elote, to more adventurous dishes such as Mexican salmon carpaccio and skirt steak with truffle French fries.

As a lover of Mexican and Hispanic cuisine, I was excited to try out Kahlo Exotic Grill. The stylish restaurant surpassed my expectations.

Walking in the front door last Wednesday around noon, I was immediately greeted to a vast, yet cozy feeling space with vivid colors reminiscent of a Frida Kahlo painting, for whom the restaurant was named after.

Honoring the vibrant colors often used by the late, iconic Mexican artist, Kahlo Exotic Grill is filled with hues of purple, green, blue and other tones throughout the eatery.

The front waiting area of the restaurant offers comfortable chairs, clearly-thought-out interior design and a couch to rest on. The feeling is more like a cafe or coffee shop than the typical booths and awkwardly placed chairs at many other restaurant waiting areas.

Joined by my editor, we were quickly greeted and seated, surrounded by rustic wall ornaments such as bicycles along with multiple portraits of Kahlo throughout the eatery.

The waitstaff were friendly and quick, bringing us a complimentary starter dish of warm bread and cheese sauce that tasted exquisite.

After a quick look through the restaurant’s varied menu, I settled on tacos al pastor ($7) and chicharron de queso ($13) — crispy, fried manchego cheese — as an appetizer.

My editor settled on a salad, Kahlo’s Favorite ($12), and the food arrived after a short 15-minute wait.

We were delighted by the chicharron de queso’s crunchy, cheesy flavor, cracking off pieces from the fried cheese dish folded up like an omelette. The complimentary guacamole added another level of fresh flavor to the savory, crunchy cheese, taking the simple dish to a new height — and one capable of being enjoyed by adults and little kids alike.

The tacos al pastor were excellent, served with authentic corn tortillas, cotija cheese and the eatery’s signature peanut salsa. The shredded meat completed the dish, offering a well-rounded taco that was flavorful but mild enough for just about any taste bud.

Included with the tacos was a small bowl of pinto beans that tasted fine, but nothing out of the ordinary.

At the other side of the table my editor was enjoying her salad.

The salad, a bed of arugula topped with caramelized pears, feta cheese, cranberries and topped off with balsamic vinegar, was also supposed to be sprinkled with walnuts, but these seemed to be missing. However, the mix offered great blend of textures. The caramelized pears and dried cranberries offered a hit of sweetness and crunch, balancing out the bitterness of the arugula and bite of the vinegar, while the creaminess of the feta brought everything together in a perfect balance of sweet and acidic flavors, she said.

Throughout our meal, our waitress was friendly and checked in on us often to ensure that all was going well.

The entirety of the restaurant was super clean, including the restroom, which honestly blew me away how spotless and spacious it was.

Complimenting the meal was a fun party mix of 2000s songs from artists such as Shakira and Pitbull to add to the fun.

All in all, we paid a little more than $50 including tip for our two entrées, sodas and an appetizer; a reasonably priced meal by Southern Oregon standards. The meal was excellent overall.

“I’m full and I’m happy,” my editor concluded at the end of the meal. I’m looking forward to trying the churros rellenos when I return.

Kahlo Exotic Grill offers much more than lunch and dinner meals, with a whole menu of breakfast and brunch items such as pancakes, enfrijoladas, omelettes and made-from-scratch fruit juices.

The restaurant is open from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sundays.

To learn more about Kahlo Exotic Grill and check out the full menu, visit kahloexoticgrill.net.