Foodie News
Ocean's new wave: Mexican fusion restaurant planned at Bistro Vino location
Jorge Alvarez of Ocean's
Ocean's is making waves at the former Bistro Vino locationPhoto by Clifford Pugh
We love it when new restaurants open, but in this case we’re even more excited because Ocean’s is opening in the old Bistro Vino spot at 819 W. Alabama.
It was tragic when the 24-year-old Montrose-area restaurant was sold to developers who were intent on tearing down the charming 1930’s house in 2008 for a townhome complex. But the plans languished — a result of the bad economy — and the two-story house sat empty. Until now, that is.
Brothers Jorge and Isaac Alvarez had been looking for a site for their modern Mexican fusion concept for two years when they found the house.
“I fell in love with it right away,” says Jorge Alvarez, a residential developer. “It needed a lot of hard work, and the owners wanted to raze it. But I said, ‘give us time, we’ll lease to own it.’”
They did and Ocean’s is now set to open May 21 with dining downstairs, a cocktail bar upstairs and, of course, that gorgeous patio with towering trees, vine covered walls and gurgling fountain. At last, an historic structure saved from the wrecking ball by foodies.
I'll have an interview with the executive chef in my weekly Food for Thought column next Tuesday.
