Puesto Heads Downtown, Brings Mexican Street Food

Eater's shown you around Pizzeria Mozza's new local digs and now here's a peek at what Puesto is planning for their spot in The Headquarters (get an all-access tour); the La Jolla-based eatery is the other confirmed lease (more are still pending) for this new downtown complex.

Known for its Mexican street food with an emphasis on fresh and organic ingredients; Puesto is run by three young La Jolla High grads, brothers Eric and Alan Adler and Isi Lombrozo. With this second location, and their first full-service restaurant, they're going big; Puesto's 4,500-square-feet restaurant in The Headquarters will combine its traditional taco line with a full service bar, living room/lounge and dining room, all designed by frequent Brian Malarkey collaborator Thomas Schoos, the celebrated designer behind the decor of Tao Las Vegas who's currently also redesigning Baleen with chef Amy DiBiase.

Jaime Partners is also on board to manage the project, which encompasses a wrap-around patio, a ground level open kitchen, dining room and lounge, and an upper mezzanine with two-top tables overlooking the action.

To warm up the industrial feel of the space, Schoos plans to suspend trees in huge hanging pots from the ceiling and has commissioned a large graffiti mural that'll cover an entire wall; it'll be drawn on a piece of steel that's bent at the bottom to form a bench for banquettes. He says the piece blends "vintage architecture, modern design, industrial style, street art and Mexican culture all into one grand gesture."

Puesto will keep their core menu of tacos, salads and rice bowls, which will be available from a quick-serve counter or translated into larger, sharable platters for full-service dining; they'll also add snacks and some seasonal plates. Their cocktail collaborators, the Queen-Conner-Ward Collective, are working on a menu that includes the El Pueblito –, an an old fashioned with smokey mescal and the Espina –, which combines rose petal-infused tequila with nopales, habanero and fresh lime. They're also helping to design a tap tower made from a streetlight that'll be mounted in the middle of the bar to dispense craft beer.
· Puesto Mexican Street Food [Official Site]
· All Plywood Reports on Eater [~ESD~]