Celestina Blok
Business Press Restaurant Reporter
Tina’s Cocina will bring “working class food” to W. Magnolia Ave. Juan Solis, part owner of The Usual craft cocktail bar, looked to his native Mexican mother Tina to plan the menu for his first solo restaurant venture, Tina’s Cocina, set to open mid-month at 961 W. Magnolia Ave.
“My mom came up with the menu,” he said. “We’ll serve basic dishes with fresh ingredients.”
Boasting high quality, affordably priced “working class food,” Tina’s will serve traditional Mexican taqueria dishes like tacos, tortas, burritos, and quesadillas as well as less familiar items like fideo (vermicelli noodles simmered in tomato sauce), albondigas (a Mexican meatball soup) and posole (a stew typically made with hominy, shredded pork and fresh cabbage.) Chorizo and barbacoa will be made in-house and Solis has plans for vegetarian options, including spinach and mushroom tacos.
The casual, BYOB restaurant will be open for breakfast, lunch and dinner and will feature a take-out window for late-night orders as well as a covered patio. Solis also hopes to open a Tex-Mex style sports bar next door sometime early next year.