Adam Fleischman’s AdVantage Restaurant Partners announced its first Mexican concept, Tacoteca, (2460 Wilshire Blvd., Santa Monica, CA 90403) a mezcal and taco lounge developed with mixologist Gilbert Marquez (El Carmen, Mercado) and Chef Ricardo Diaz (Colonia Taco Lounge, Guisados, Cook’s Tortas, Bizarra Capital).
Tacoteca’s restaurant, bar and live music lounge will feature a refined menu of tacos and sides alongside classic cocktails reinvented with Mexican spirits. The unique bar menu will highlight indigenous Mexican flavors like tepache, tejuino and pulque, along with an extensive mezcal selection. The beer list at Tacoteca will feature mostly Californian and Mexican beers selected by local beer writer Bradley Japhe. The open floor-plan venue, which served as a former piano bar, will also incorporate a variety of live entertainment.
The idea for Tacoteca started with Fleischman’s regular trips to El Carmen, where he and Marquez struck up a conversation about mezcal. The two began talking about their passion for Mexican spirits and creating a craft cocktail Mexican bar. Fleischman has also been a fan of Chef Ricardo Diaz and his work at East LA taco spots like Bizarra Capital, Cook’s Tortas, and Guisados, often cited as serving Los Angeles’ best tacos. The trio hope to make Tacoteca the best Mexican food and cocktail lounge on the west side, and perhaps Los Angeles.
Tacoteca anticipates an early 2015 opening date.
