See also: - Uno Mas Taqueria Y Cantina opening on South Pearl Street - Chipotle founder Steve Ells discusses the ingredients behind two decades in business - 100 Favorite Dishes: Sopressata pizza from Kaos
The space, which occupies the former Budapest Bistro, is pure Mexicana with its walls hued bright yellow, red and blue -- one of which pimps a hand-painted rooster inspired by Mexican graffiti art. The barnyard bird, which is often seen sauntering here, there and everywhere in Mexico, is considered good luck, although given the success of Kaos and Gaia, it's unlikely that Mangold-White needs it.
Beyond that barnyard bird, which squats in the dining room, is a bar that seats fourteen, and to go along with Middleton's menu of street tacos (think al pastor, carnitas, barbacoa, pork belly and cheese-and-black beans), tortas and starters, including ceviche; grilled corn rubbed with sauce of chiles, lime and mayonnaise; guacamole; and a trio of salsas with chips, are numerous tequila-leaning cocktails and an impressive bottled beer list.
In the coming months, Mangold-White will add a 25-seat backyard patio enclosed with re-purposed colonial doors that are made of wood and paint brushed to resemble distressing techniques, and you can bet that the respite, like the courtyards he's created at Kaos and Gaia, will be a neighborhood hot spot.
I joined the staff last night for a tasting of Middleton's menu, the photos of which are on the following pages, as are photos of the space. Uno Mas will be open Wednesday through Saturday beginning at 11:30 a.m., closing at 9 p.m. Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, and at 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.
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