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New Upscale Tapas-Style Restaurant, Mesa Latin Kitchen, Opening in Durham July 17

Bookmark and Share Durham, NC - June 24, 2015

Durham, North Carolina – June 23, 2015 – Mesa Latin Kitchen, an upscale eatery featuring contemporary, chef-crafted Latin fare, will officially open to the public Friday, July 17 at 5 p.m. Featuring small plates, entrées, desserts and an array of craft cocktails, the restaurant will offer a unique selection of authentic Latin cuisine full of explosive flavors and, whenever possible, local ingredients.

Chef Douglas Rodriguez, the globally acclaimed “Godfather of Nuevo Latino Cuisine,” developed the Mesa Latin Kitchen menu. He specializes in innovative, sophisticated pan-Latin dishes and is credited with changing the image of Latino food in the United States. Chef Rodriguez partnered with local restaurateur Fares Hanna to bring the new restaurant concept to life at 2701 Hillsborough Road in Durham.

Hanna owned and operated Gregoria’s Kitchen and Gregoria’s Cuban Steakhouse, both in Durham, as well as a number of fast casual restaurants in the area. His inspiration and motivation for the new concept came from both the surrounding community as well as friend and chef, Rodriguez. Hanna will officially close Gregoria’s Cuban Steakhouse on July 3 and completely revamp the space into the new Mesa Latin Kitchen concept in time for the July 17 grand opening.

“Chef Rodriguez and I share a passion for authentic Latin food and decided to create a beautiful restaurant together that provides Durham an unforgettable culinary experience with every visit and every bite,” said Hanna. “The flavors and cooking techniques are straight from Latin America, and the menu is truly extraordinary. Chef Rodriguez did an amazing job; people are really going to be floored by the unique taste combinations and beautiful presentations.”

Hanna is doing a complete aesthetic redesign for the restaurant building on Hillsborough Road. The new look will offer a more modern and elegant atmosphere, including a custom cement-top bar, wood beam ceilings, captivating lighting fixtures, and more.

Gregoria’s Cuban Steakhouse will continue to operate as normal through Friday, July 3 and is continuing to take reservations and walk-in diners for both the dining room and patio until that time.

Mesa Latin Kitchen will officially open for business Friday, July 17 at 5 p.m. and will celebrate its grand opening throughout the weekend. Guests are invited for food and drink specials as well as live music. Reservations can be made in advance with the Gregoria’s Cuban Steakhouse hostess or by calling (919) 973-2717.

About Mesa Latin Kitchen

Mesa Latin Kitchen is a modern, tapas-style restaurant in Durham, North Carolina offering a unique array of sensational Latin cuisine. Each of Mesa’s mouthwatering dishes is full of bold Latin flavors, with each recipe masterfully created by renowned James Beard Award winner, Chef Douglas Rodriguez. Patrons can indulge in a meal and drinks inside the spacious restaurant, at the custom cement-topped bar or outside on the beautiful patio. Dinner is served Tuesday through Saturday from 4 to 10 p.m. The restaurant is also open on Sunday for brunch from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and dinner from 4 to 9 p.m. For more information, visit www.mesalatinkitchen.com.

Press Contact

Contact: Liza Titchener
Email: ltitchener@boltpr.com
Phone: (919) 561-7660