What's going into the old Azure space at 931 N. Second St.?
This just in:
Dave Frank and Stephen Simons, owners of Royal Tavern and Cantina Los Caballitos, are pleased to announce the opening of Cantina Dos Segundos. Located at 931 North Second
Street in Northern Liberties, the Cantina’s drinks, design, and cuisine are bursting with colors, textures, and flavors that capture the very essence of Mexico.
Cantina Dos Segundos brings the true feeling of Mexico to Northern Liberties. Sun-drenched colors ignite the atmosphere with the perfect combination of excitement and relaxation. Light filtered through punched tin sconces perfectly sets off the vivid hues inside, while the glow from the candle-lit interior illuminates the outdoor seating along Calle Segunda. From the wooden bar, built with 150-year-old cypress timbers, to the comfortable dining room, Dos is a perfect place for drinking and snacking, for a full dinner, and for catching up with old friends and making new ones over a pitcher of margaritas.
Cantina Dos Segundos offers eleven different varieties of fresh fruit margaritas, ranging from traditional lime to prickly pear, pomegranate, watermelon, and guava, along with a wide variety of Mexican beers and sodas, specialty cocktails, regional wines, and the chef's own sangria.
Philadelphia’s largest selection of blanco, reposado, añejo, premium, and super-premium tequilas, along with several infused and chile-spiked tequilas, served neat or with Dos’ secret recipe sangrita, will satisfy even the most discriminating agave aficionado.
Cantina Dos Segundos’ menu will combine a few old favorites from Cantina Los Caballitos with many exciting new offerings. Daily specials will explore the vast range of Mexico’s regional cuisines. From informal Mexico City street foods and taqueria specialties, such as sopes, gorditas, tortas and tacos al pastor, to the refined elegance of the seven moles of Oaxaca; from the satisfying soul foods of Michoacán, like carnitas, to the refreshing ceviches and seafood dishes of Veracruz, Cantina Dos Segundos features both traditional preparations and Chef Mark McKinney’s innovative interpretations of the classics.
Chef Mark McKinney, Chef de Cuisine at ¡Pasión! when it received a four bell review from the Philadelphia Inquirer’s Craig LaBan, has further solidified his reputation for excellence in Philadelphia’s bar and restaurant scene as Chef of Royal Tavern and Cantina Los Caballitos. Stephen Simons says: “Mark is an incredibly talented and innovative chef. He insists on using fresh, local meats and produce, and whenever possible, employs ingredients indigenous to the regions where the dishes originated.”
Chef McKinney adds: “This is the most ambitious menu I have ever worked on.” Cantina Dos Segundos’ opening menu includes Róbalo a la Plancha – grilled bass fillet with Seville orange juice-serrano chile salsa, amaranth grains salad, and wild Mexican greens (quelite, huauzontle, amaranth) and Mole Amarillo con Pavo y Verduras – Oaxacan yellow mole with Eberly organic free range turkey, green beans, chayote, green and yellow squash, white rice and grilled jalapeños. In addition, there will be daily specials, including ceviches, sopas, and tortas along with the platos fuertes (main courses). Even the humble taco kicks (pork) butt: Michoacán-style carnitas are braised for 11 hours in manteca y tocino (lard and bacon); pork shoulders and legs are marinated overnight then seared and slowly basted on a trompo de pastor (vertical rotisserie) for the tacos al pastor. “We want the Cantina to be your favorite neighborhood bar that also happens to have outstanding Mexican cuisine,” says Dave Frank, “This kitchen, and these drinks, will satisfy both the casual bar guest and the serious diner.”
Mexican cantina names are often a play on words, themes or locations. Cantina Dos Segundos = Two Seconds Cantina. The new bar is on Second Street and is the owners’ second cantina. “We are glad to be bringing this humorous tradition to El Norte De Libertades,” says Frank.
Cantina Dos Segundos is located at 931 North Second Street and is opening in July 2008. The newly renovated establishment is a lively addition to the booming Northern Liberties neighborhood. Dos will be open every weeknight from 4pm until 2am, and Saturdays and Sundays from 11am until 2am, with weekend brunch beginning shortly after opening.