Liberty Station’s El Jardin Returns As Casual Mexican Cantina

Less than a month after its surprising shutter, El Jardin has reopened in Liberty Station as El Jardin Cantina. Owner Johan Engman of Rise & Shine Restaurant Group (Breakfast Republic, Feast & Fareway) pivoted the modern Mexican restaurant into a more casual eatery, which is now open Tuesday through Sunday serving dinner and weekend brunch in a revamped setting.

The redesigned menu now focuses on tacos, including carne asada, birria, and pastor-style octopus and shrimp, and entrees such as lamb barbacoa and a grilled whole sea bass. There’s also salads, a variety of guacamole, and starters that range from a vegan tamale to Mexican seafood dishes like ceviche and aguachile.

Cocktails revolve around an array of margarita options and other specialty drinks, including a shareable large-format punch, served in a watermelon half, that mixes blanco tequila and mezcal with lime, watermelon, and mineral water. Happy hour, offered Tuesday through Friday from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., includes a flight of three half-sized margaritas for $15 and food specials priced from $3 to $7.