BELMONT CRAGIN — After winning over the taste makers in Albany Park, chef Dudley Nieto is bringing his brand of bold and experimental Latin food to a neighborhood that's familiar with the fare: Belmont Cragin.
Nieto's Rojo Gusano will open its second location in the neighborhood, at 3131 N. Central Ave. The new location comes less than a year after Nieto opened the first Rojo Gusano in Albany Park.
And though his new customer base might be more familiar with the flavors, Nieto said Rojo Gusano will stand out above the rest of the area's Latin restaurants.
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Bringing his fun, flavorful brand of Mexican food to Belmont Cragin was something like a homecoming for Nieto. He previously operated a pizza shop in the same location as the new Rojo Gusano.
"We're looking forward to getting to know the great customers in that part of the city," Nieto said. "We know the neighborhood and we saw the need to have a restaurant like this."
Though it is already open, the new location will hold its grand opening Friday and will be giving away one free taco to each customer from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.
Tacos at Rojo Gusano [Submitted Photo]
Nieto might be known to foodies for opening Adobo Grill, Mezcalina and most recently Barbakoa, but his new business features food that can't be found elsewhere, he said.
Drawing on a mix of cultures and cuisines, Rojo Gusano features tacos and other menu items not seen in many other Latin restaurants. The product of a Mexican mother and Spanish father, Nieto said he loves all kinds of cuisine and thought to try and blend them under one roof.
The result is a bold menu featuring items like a Thai-inspired salsa, a curry taco and a butternut squash taco. Rojo Gusano hopes to bring a more upscale approach to tacos while still emphasizing a casual, affordable vibe.
"Now more than ever, I think we need to break these rules," Nieto said. "It's bold and it's exciting."
Serving such fare will separate him from the Belmont Cragin's many other Mexican restaurants, he said.
"There's not a lot of good restaurants on this [street]. It's the same old Mexican restaurant," he said. "I think this will go well for the neighborhood."
The first thought for the new location was to make it an "express" Rojo Gusano, or an even more casual spot than the original in Albany Park. But Rojo said he and his partners decided that the existing business was too successful to mess with.
A look inside the new Rojo Gusano in Belmont Cragin. [Submitted photo]
That means the Belmont Cragin location will look much like the original, with a casual, Southern California decor featuring antique woods and surfboards. The Belmont Cragin location doesn't sell the signature cocktails available in Albany Park, but Nieto said the business is working on securing a liquor license and will be BOYB until then.
Nieto said the design was inspired by the taco stand and other very casual spots near the beach in San Diego.
"It's a place to relax and enjoy," he said
Rojo Gusano will open at 4 p.m. daily.
Rojo Gusano chef/owner Dudley Nieto [DNAinfo/Patty Wetli]
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