It’s Los Angeles. Summer is not over. September just means to get yourself to this new bar with a retractable roof. Mercado (7910 W 3rd St., 323.944.0947) is serving up a light breezy, some sunshine and mezcal-and-strawberry margaritas. It’s the Mid-City version of the Westside outpost.
The space, designed by Ana Henton of MASS Architecture (Lukshon), has modern wooden chairs, leather banquettes, a large mural by L.A artist Carlos Nieto III, dark wooden ceilings, and exposed rafters. The large, marble bar is the main attraction, but you can also relax in an intimate lounge or in an airy white-brick dining room. The dining room has a communal table and also has the retractable thing going on with a big garage door. Plus, there’s a signature tequila room where distilled agave and mezcal will be the headlining feature.
Order up small plates like Tacos de Jicama con Camarón (crispy mexican sweet shrimp, chile de arbol aioli, mexican slaw, jicama tortilla); Choriqueso (melted cotija, parmesan, oaxaca, house chorizo, poblanos, mushrooms, fresh chips); and Dos Gringas (spit-roasted pastor, oaxaca, onions, cilantro, chile de arbol salsa, avocado salsa, flour tortillas). Large Plates include Carnitas (Chef Jose’s slow-cooked natural pork, guacamole, chile de arbol salsa, cauliflower with escabeche); Pavo en Mole Oaxaqueño (Shelton Farms whole turkey leg, Oaxacan mole, mexican rice); and Callos de Hacha (jumbo deep sea scallops encrusted with pumpkin seeds, chipotle-peppercorn sauce, chayote with calabacitas. Full menu here.
