Mexican restaurant coming to the Hill

Posted 10/21/14

The former location of Chestnut 7, 8201 Germantown Ave., where El Poquito is expected to open this fall. by Kevin Dicciani El Poquito, a Mexican cantina and bar, is coming to Chestnut Hill. Owner …

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Mexican restaurant coming to the Hill

Posted
The former location of Chestnut 7, 8201 Germantown Ave., where El Poquito is expected to open this fall. The former location of Chestnut 7, 8201 Germantown Ave., where El Poquito is expected to open this fall.

by Kevin Dicciani

El Poquito, a Mexican cantina and bar, is coming to Chestnut Hill.

Owner George Atterbury said the restaurant is set to open this fall at the former location of Chestnut 7, 8201 Germantown Ave.

Atterbury, the former director of operations of the Garces Group, a restaurant company founded by Chef Jose Garces, said the restaurant will serve modern Mexican cuisine and Mexican-inspired cocktails. He said its name, meaning “the little one,” derives from the name of a café racing bike used in the early 1960s in races in Mexico.

Atterbury said the main emphasis will be on the restaurant side of business as opposed to the bar, and described the dining atmosphere as “casual and family friendly.” As far as alcohol is concerned, he said the restaurant will have a full-bar and a “great beverage program,” which will feature fresh juices, frozen margaritas and sangrias. He said the menu is currently under development.

The interior of the restaurant is being redesigned as well as the exterior. Outside, in the courtyard area, Atterbury said there will be café tables, communal tables and two fire pits. There are also plans to add a parking lot in the rear.

After visiting Chestnut Hill with one of his business partners, Atterbury said he felt it was the ideal place to open the restaurant.

“When I first came to Chestnut Hill I fell in love with the area,” Atterbury said. “It's such a great area and community. It's a unique section of Philadelphia.”

Atterbury said he hopes to incorporate all that Chestnut Hill has to offer into El Poquito. As part of that goal, he said the restaurant has a partnership with Chestnut Hill Coffee and Baker Street Bread.

“We're really looking forward to ingraining our business into Chestnut Hill and the community,” he added.

For more information, visit ElPoquito.com.

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