A festive addition from the team behind La Catrina is coming to South City early next month: sibling restaurant El Catrin is slated to open at 6902 Morganford, in the former Hilltop Inn space.
The Provenance
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At La Catrina, the namesake is the grand dame of Mexico, whose skeletal visage adorns nearly every table. Always elegantly dressed, at the restaurant she sports an enormous, colorful hat adorned with flowers and feathers. In Mexican art and folklore, La Catrina symbolizes the ebullient fullness of life and of the acceptance of its inevitable end. Similarly, according to this article, catrín is a historic moniker for a well-dressed, well-bred gentleman “who loved to show it off.”
The Atmosphere
The new restaurant features El Catrin in a similar Day of the Dead vibe, with the eatery’s mustachioed namesake character—replete with top hat, sprightly bow tie, and margarita glasses dancing in his eyes—painted on the exterior. Likewise, colorful murals cover the walls inside, and striking graphics depicting El Catirin—each one slightly different—appear on booth and chair backs.
The owners aimed to improve the flow of the space in the 1940s-era building, which now seats a total of 300 people inside and outside. “We relocated the front entry, removed the wall that was behind the bar, and turned it into a horsehoe bar,” says partner Steve Rasnic. A newly designed bar seats 16, and there are 24 more seats at the tables nearby. A second bar and waiting room seats 40, while another dining room seats 42. The expanded dining room seats 85, while an inviting patio with cozy booths and table seating accommodates 125 guests. There’s also enclosed rooftop seating for 50. Having so many different seating areas opens the door to private parties large and small.
The Menu
Expect many of the Tex-Mex standards: fajitas, burritos, and tacos, which will be made from scratch, as well as 10 specialty dishes. “In the menu, we put the names of the dishes near the photos,” Rasnic says. “That’s something we learned from customer reactions at La Catrina.” The full-service bar serves beer, wine, margaritas, and cocktails as well. It’s a big menu with vibrant colors and lush photos.
The Team
The partners include Steve Rasnic, Jerry Reyes, Scott Rupp, Luis Bucio, and Greg Gawrys. On the day we visited in October, three of the five partners worked on site with the construction crew to stain booths, paint, and assemble tables. “We’re out here working, and neighborhood people as well as La Catrina customers are coming in to welcome us and to see when we’re opening,” says Rasnic. “It looks a little chaotic now, but we are really close and will open the first week in November.
“We own this whole block,” Rasnic adds. “There’s a small storefront at the far corner. We’re going to build that out into a place where people can get tortas and Mexican ice cream next.” Stay tuned for more info.
