Mercadito Midtown to Open Winter 2009 MIAMI, Florida – Tacos, guacamole, ceviches and more…will bring a taste of Mexico to the $2.3 billion neighborhood of Midtown Miami in Winter 2009 with the opening of Mercadito Midtown.
Mercadito, Spanish for “little market,” is the fifth location for the Sandoval brothers, owners and operators of the successful Mercadito, Mercadito Grove and Mercadito Cantina restaurants in New York City and Mercadito Chicago.
To be located in Midtown’s Midblock East building within the heart of the neighborhood’s “Restaurant Row”, Mercadito will blend true native traditions of Mexican cuisine with a modern flair. Creative dishes and authentic delicacies will be offered in an indoor/outdoor setting, with a separate taqueria for takeout and delivery, an added plus for the more than 1,000 Midtown residents. The main dining room and bar area will offer space for 145 seats, while outdoor dining will accommodate seating for 106 people, allowing guests the enjoyment of Midtown’s urban feel and Miami’s spectacular weather.
Infusing tradition into each recipe found on the menu, Chef Patricio Sandoval draws his culinary inspiration from shopping with his mother as a child in the open-air markets of Mexico, always gravitating toward the local merchants with their fresh ingredients and bold flavors.
Bringing an artistic energy to Mexican cuisine, Mercadito’s menu will include thoughtful variations of delicious guacamoles, which includes the traditional version (tomato, cilantro, onion and serrano chile) and the popular mango guacamole with jicama and chipotle. Nearly a half-dozen ceviches will also be offered such as Callo de Hacha (marinated bay scallops with tomatillo pico de gallo and apple-chile guajillo broth) and Camaron (shrimp, mango, tomatillo pico de gallo and poblano-epazote broth).
Mercadito’s infamous selection of tacos include Pastor (ancho-guajillo rubbed pork, grilled pineapple and chile de arbol salsa); Estilo Baja (beer battered mahi mahi, Mexican-style coleslaw and chipotle aioli); and Camaron (shrimp, roasted garlic, chipotle mojo and avocado). Entrées feature Pollo a las Brasas (grilled whole adobo marinated chicken, three corn pico de gallo and chile de arbol salsa) and side dishes such as Arroz Verde al Horno (green rice casserole with manchego and Oaxaca cheese); Elote Mexicano (Mexican-style corn on the cob); and Plátanos Machos (fried plantains).
The unique culinary experience of Mercadito would not be the same without the enjoyment of a wide selection of Mexican spirits. With a beverage program created exclusively by industry veterans and leading beverage experts Tippling Bros., a dizzying array of Mexican tequilas will be featured within Mercadito’s indoor and outdoor tequila lounge offering a scintillating twist on traditional Mexican cocktails. Margarita options includes Mercado (tequila blanco, pineapple, lime and chile piquin); Pepino (tequila blanco, cucumber lime and chile de arbol); and Tres Cítricos (tequila blanco, orange, grapefruit, lime and habanero). An assortment of Mexican beers will also be available.
“We are thrilled to be expanding into an emerging, metropolitan market in Miami,” said Alfredo Sandoval, co-owner along with brothers Felipe and Patricio. “Mercadito embodies the personality and artistic vibe of the urban Midtown Miami neighborhood and we look forward to celebrating the opening later this year.”
The interior design of Mercadito will create an upbeat and stylish ambience like an “artist’s loft.” A contemporary blend of Mexican arts and fresh, vivid colors will grace the walls of the 5,000-square-foot restaurant. The décor will also include pop and graffiti artwork created by well-known artist Erni Vales, best known for his development of the 3-D graffiti style.
The boldly decorated restaurant will create an open, airy feel with its glass retractable door and focal points consisting of hanging, custom lanterns made entirely of rope and a centrally located communal dining table for festive gatherings. Exposed white-washed brick walls and columns wrapped in wire mesh surround the dining room, while rope screens add texture and create privacy between banquettes and tables. Mercadito’s main bar will be wrapped in patterned colored leather with a continuous white quartzite top, and the bar’s backdrop will be framed by large antique mirror panels with a series of custom, metal pyramids serving as a unique light sculpture.
Mercadito will serve lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and dinner seven days a week from 5 p.m. to midnight. A limited menu for late-night dining will also be available Wednesday and Thursday until 1 a.m.; Friday and Saturday until 3 a.m. Mercadito will be located at 3252 NE First Avenue.
About Mercadito RestaurantsMercadito Restaurants have grown from their first New York City location in 2004 to becoming a renowned restaurant group specializing in Mexican cuisine and modern taquerias. The popularity of these restaurants can be attributed to the innovative interpretations of traditional Mexican cooking created by Chef Patricio Sandoval. The management team behind Mercadito Restaurants has over 15 years of experience and currently owns and operates three critically-acclaimed restaurants in New York City: Mercadito, Mercadito Grove, and Mercadito Cantina. In addition to the upcoming opening of Mercadito in Chicago, Mercadito will also open in Miami this winter. Mercadito’s partnership with renowned beverage consultants Tippling Bros. adds creativity to their beverage programs that merge complex flavors and the unexpected. For additional information, please visit www.mercaditorestaurants.com
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About Midtown MiamiMidtown Miami is more than just a place to work and live, it is a place to relax, eat, stroll through boutiques and art galleries, and experience the lifestyle of Miami’s new urban core. City sidewalks weave through the neighborhood’s 56-acres that offer a variety of shops, restaurants, an Art Park, galleries, three residential buildings, art installations and sculptures. Midtown Miami is nothing short of an exciting and emerging retail and lifestyle destination, with soon-to-be-open restaurants and lounges such as Brasserie D’Azur, Sugarcane Lounge by SushiSamba, The Cheese Course and Primo Pizza, among many others. The art and culture-infused neighborhood will be host to exciting events throughout the year, including the Midtown Miami Arts District’s second debut of satellite art fairs and installations in December 2009 during Art Basel Miami Beach.
Midtown Miami’s Sales Center is located at 3301 NE First Avenue, Miami, Florida, 33131. For more information about Midtown, call (305) 757-0001 or visit www.midtownmiami.com. For more information about the Midtown Miami Arts District and Art Midtown, visit www.midtownmiami.com/#/video.
RELATED LINKS: MIDTOWN MIAMI
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