South Coast Plaza Office Division announced that Chef Amar Santana and business partner Ahmed Labbate are opening their second restaurant, Vaca, in the summer of 2015. They will offer traditional Spanish cuisine with a creative twist and a wide variety of steaks from grass fed Argentinean beef to Japanese Kobe. Focusing on small and shared plates, Santana plans to create an adventurous menu including paella, bocadillos (Spanish sandwiches), cured Spanish meats and an assortment of house-made charcuterie.
The duo is returning to Costa Mesa three years after opening the successful Laguna Beach restaurant, Broadway by Amar Santana. Both had worked extensively with Chef Charlie Palmer in New York City before opening Charlie Palmer at Bloomingdale’s South Coast Plaza in 2007.
The restaurant, which will seat 125 for lunch and dinner and the décor will feature an open kitchen, a wood-burning grill and two outdoor patios. The bar will specialize in craft cocktails, specialty gin and tonics, house sangrias and unique Spanish wines.
