THE LOOP — Local restaurateurs Phil Stefani and Adolfo Garcia are teaming up to open Broken English Taco Pub, a taqueria off Michigan Avenue with prices commanding just a few dólares.
Set to open the last week of April, the pub at 75 E. Lake St. will pay homage to the street vendors of Mexico City, said Garcia, who was born and raised nearby. Once open, the restaurant will serve about 20 different tacos, sold in pairs for $5 or $6, and beers and cocktails starting with $3 cans of Modelo and Tecate.
"You can only charge so much for a hot dog, and it’s the same with tacos," Garcia said. "I don’t want people to get a feeling that we’re trying to fancy up something that’s as simple as the items."
Garcia came up with the restaurant's name, which he said was inspired by his wife and daughters teasing him for his second language.
"My English is broken, like all the way," said Garcia, who was born in Puebla, Mexico. "It’s my flavor. I love it. I enjoy it."
A quick look inside Broken English, 75 E. Lake St. [DNAinfo/David Matthews]
The restaurant will be open from 10 a.m. to 1 a.m. every day. The menu will include traditional tacos such as al pastor (spit roast with pineapple) and carne asada, plus more specialty items and all-day breakfast tacos (chorizo, huevos con papas). Garcia said the restaurant plans to make its own Mezcal and sell $5 margaritas, as well as $7-$8 cocktails including sangria, "horchata coladas," and "Mezcal Mules."
The bar will also sell tamales, tortas, and snacks such as empanadas, quesadillas, and "street corn."
"It's gonna be awesome, man," Garcia said.
The restaurant will be the first opening between Garcia and Stefani, who are also partnering on the Flamingo Rum Club opening in May in River North. Garcia, of Pearl Tavern, Son of a Butcher, and other restaurants, said Stefani wanted in on the taco pub when he heard Garcia's plans for a taqueria off Michigan Avenue. Stefani closed his restaurant at 437 N. Rush St. late last month.
"Hopefully it's the beginning of a great partnership," Garcia said of Broken English. "It'll be a fun place."
The restaurant will seat about 90 inside and have a patio for 40 outside, Garcia said. The decor will include murals by JC Rivera, known for his "Bear Champ" paintings here, and other local artists.
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