In anticipation of the opening Monday (7/21), worker bees are swarming over Distrito, the Mexican from Jose Garces at 40th and Chestnut Streets.
(By the way, the address of "3945 Chestnut" is misleading; you get in on 40th Street just north of Chestnut.)
It's tour-able but not perfectly photographable yet.
First floor focuses on a bar highlighted with light-up movie-style marquees, which advertise drinks.
The colorful lounge, a riot of pinks and greens, includes a jukebox, which will play classic rock throughout the restaurant (that "Mi Casa es Su Casa" neon sign hangs over it). There's one of those claw "prize" machines with cheesy Mexican action figures. In the 40th Street main window, there's a classic VW Beetle -- reminiscent of a Mexico City taxi -- which can be used for seating. (No classic-VW owner I know would allow eating inside his or her car, but...)
And psst.. This is supposed to be a state secret -- but there's a purple karaoke room behind the hostess stand that will accommodate a group of about 20.
The lounge will be the drop-in place, and free Wi-Fi is being aimed at the Penn crowd.
Stairway to the second floor, where the reserved seating will be, features a wall display of 600 "lucha libre" wrestler masks on one side, and a collection of movie posters on the other (photos below). Above the stairwell will be a movie screen playing Mexican cinema.
Second-floor seating, which includes a 35-or-so-seat private dining area on the Chestnut Street side, includes swiveling, deep-dish rattan chairs big enough for two, and another movie-theater-like marquee with restaurant dish names.
All told, it's a 250-seater. And to answer the question on many women's minds: Yes, the restrooms are unisex stalls and sinks are communal.
Chef de cuisine Tim Spinner's menu will be posted here when it's available.
