Tex-Mex headed to Montford Drive

A local restaurant group plans to open a restaurant called Maverick - Rock Taco in the former 15 North Roadside Kitchen on Montford Drive.

The restaurant will feature a Tex-Mex menu with a rock-and-roll theme. The new owners, Xenia Hospitality Group, hope to add a pair of outdoor patios as well as expanding the bar, and are aiming for live music from local bands up to five nights a week. The group currently operates Charlotte restaurants Ilios Noche, Nolen Kitchen, and Big View.

"We want to do something really fun," said co-owner Stratos Lambos. "The menu will be real Mexican-style, street food, small plates, strong flavors, lots of different chilies." The bar will have a wide selection of craft beers, said Lambos, and a Bloody Mary-style drink made with Mexican beer.

Xenia is aiming for an early June opening, with lunch and dinner menus. Lambos said prices will be affordable. "We don't want anyone to spend more than $10 on lunch," including drink and a side, he said.

The Xenia group had originally looked at the building when it was a smokehouse, before 15 North took over. But it was dilapidated at the time, and Lambos said he passed. "It was a blessing, because we were able to get the restaurant completely built out as opposed to building it out ourselves," he said. 

Now, Lambos said the lack of extensive amounts of construction overhead to repay will help him keep prices competitive. "We don't have this burden that we have to cover overhead with a very large check average," he said. He hopes that will keep customers flowing during the street's slower hours. "The biggest challenge on that street is going to be Monday to Wednesday lunch," he said.

Lambos plans to put decks on the front and side of the building, pending zoning approval. Lambos said music will be an important part of the new restaurant. "I really want to capitalize on bringing in some small local bands, young bands that want to come in and play their music," he said.

Though Montford Drive is a thriving nightspot fueled by the bar scene, Lambos said his hope is that Maverick will be known as much for its food as its drinks. "It's young, it's fun, people going on bar crawls up and down Montford," he said. "We want our restaurant to be a destination for food. I believe the longevity of a great restaurant-bar is in the food."



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