Launching Saturday, October 1 is the flagship for Como Ceviche!, a new fast-casual seafood shop from co-owners Johan Engman and William Lopez. Engman steers the Rise + Shine Restaurant Group, whose empire includes the ever-expanding Breakfast Republic eateries, and Lopez helms local marketing communications firm Alternative Strategies; the friends co-created the concept, with Lopez handling the design and branding and Engman working on operations and menu development.
The 1,650-square-foot quick-service eatery is based on a fresh mix of seafood — fish, calamari, octopus and shrimp — seasoned with traditional ceviche flavors and ingredients from Peru, Mexico, Cuba and the Caribbean. The Peruvian ceviches are served with sweet potato, toasted corn, and choclo, a large field corn, while the Mexican versions come with lemon-spiced tortilla chips. In November, the eatery will introduce a ceviche of the month, which will highlight other regional variations. Available as-is, or served in a bowl with coconut jasmine rice or organic quinoa, the ceviche can also be wrapped with rice or quinoa and toppings in a tortilla. The current beverage menu include craft iced teas and two-ounce antioxidant shots, and desserts range from key lime meringue pie to a sorbet trio.
Open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday to Thursday and from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Como Ceviche plans to also feature sidewalk patio seating in a few months.