Gilbert Marquez, Ricardo Diaz, and AdVantage Opening Tacoteca in Santa Monica

Santa Monica and the Westside is in for some big league Mexican fare come early 2015, when chef Ricardo Diaz (Colonia Taco Lounge, Guisados) and bartender Gilbert Marquez (El Carmen) open Tacoteca in the former Charleston building in Santa Monica in conjunction with Adam Fleischman's AdVantage Restaurant Partners.

Serving a slate of refined tacos and cocktails boosted by Mexican spirits, Tacoteca was formed on Fleischman's desire to do a great Mexican restaurant, after introducing a slew of new concepts like Smoke.Oil.Salt. and ChocoChicken.

Marquez will compile the bulk of the cocktail and spirits selection, which will not only have a heavy mezcal presence, but an emphasis on indigenous Mexican flavors, like tejuino, pulque, and tepache. Local beer writer Bradley Japhe will compile a craft beer list representing Californian and Mexican suds.

Tacoteca
2460 Wilshire Blvd.
Santa Monica, California 90403