Latino fusion spot with walk-up taco stand opens in Plaza Midwood
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La Vecina has opened at 1306 Central Avenue, right by the train tracks and next to Moo & Brew. Photo: McKenzie Rankin/Axios
La Vecina, a new outdoor Latino fusion restaurant, has soft opened on Plaza Midwood's Central Avenue.
Why it matters: It's a fresh offering — by the teams behind Moo & Brew and Bocao Sushi — in a fast-changing neighborhood that's often feared to be losing its local charm.
Driving the news: For now, La Vecina is open for dinner with limited hours, 5-10pm Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday and 5pm-midnight Friday-Saturday. Grand opening weekend is planned for Sept. 11-13, co-owner Ken Thomas tells Axios.
What's next: Thomas says La Vecina will roll out a few updates in the coming weeks.
- Reservations opens on Resy the weekend of Aug. 7.
- Sunday brunch launches Aug. 23.
- Lunch will begin the week of Aug. 24.
- Coffee and breakfast tacos will be added in the fall.
- To-go margaritas will be added, pending logistics and ABC compliance.
What to expect: An open-air restaurant with a neighborhood feel that serves a range of Latino cuisine, says Thomas, who co-owns Moo and Brew, right next door.
- He's opened La Vecina alongside Bocao Sushi owners Carlos Nuñez and Victor Abad.
- Originally a 600-square-foot building (formerly home to The Lunchbox and before that, Chief's Smoke Shop), the team added 1,500 square feet to create a wraparound patio that's a major part of the experience.
- That's because the restaurant's main draw is its walk-up counter, which serves drinks and a limited food menu for takeout or enjoying at the standing tables just behind it.
Dig in: Menu highlights include classic al pastor shaved on-site and served on homemade tortillas, empanadas, mezcal-forward cocktails and margaritas, plus slow-cooked sharable dishes and Sunday brunch.
The intrigue: There's full-service dining, too, but it's all outdoors. La Vecina will never have indoor seating, says Thomas. Instead, the space will be "winterized" come next year.
The vibe: A Tulum-inspired, beachside taco stand feel is heavy throughout the open-air space.
- On weekends, expect house music sets from DJs spinning behind the counter.
Here's everything we ordered for $98 (before tax and tip).
🍹 The LV Margarita (house margarita): $12
🍹Aeromexico (mezcal and Aperol cocktail): $16
🥑 Guacamole with tortilla chips (option to swap for plantain): $13
🥩 Arrachera a la Plancha (skirt steak) served with rice and beans: $29
🌮 Tacos: Premium ribeye ($12), al pastor ($6), barbacoa de setas (mushroom, $5), pollo ($5).
What they're saying: "The three-year journey allowed us to collaborate with some of the most skilled creators and craftsmen in the city," Nuñez said. "From the design to the menu to the atmosphere, La Vecina has been a true labor of love."
Between the lines: Over the last three years, the team worked with Charlotte design firm Cluck Design, branding studio Made Outside and interior designer Leo Dowell Designs to bring their vision for the restaurant to life.
Fun fact: La Vecina translates to "The Neighbor" in Spanish. Nunez tells Axios this naming is a nod to the restaurant's commitment to being a neighborhood spot, especially as a wave of national chains moves into the Commonwealth development steps away.
- Much of the build-out, from the doors to the bar, was made by hand. The bathroom doors feature wooden inlays from Mexico.
If you go: La Vecina is at 1306 Central Ave.