Court Avenue Coming Soon
In my reading this week I saw that two great items are heading to Court Avenue. The first is a Pub Crawl to raise money for a good cause.
The Historic Court District Association and the Des Moines Music Coalition will host a downtown pub crawl Friday, Sept. 7 to raise proceeds for the Central Iowa Shelter Services.
The event, starting at 10 p.m., will feature entertainment at nine spots, including: the Court Avenue Brewery Co., Vaudville Mews, Johnny’s Hall of Fame, El Bait Shop and High Life Lounge, Buzzard Billy’s, Royal Mile and Red Monk, People’s Court, Liar’s Club and The Lift.
Entertainment includes: Josh David Band, Horseshoe Spatulas, Soulever, Moosenuckle, Snafu, DJ Johnny Utah, Tyler Thompson Band, DJ Retro P.
The second, it quite a bit bigger announcement. I was under the impression that the people behind Centro were bringing a latin style restaurant in the same mold of Centro to Court Ave. I read this week that the Bookey’s brought in a team from Florida to bring a great Mexican restaurant to Court Ave. From what I read this place will be bangin (hip talk for the youngin’s). Here’s a little more information:
A Florida restaurateur announced today he will open Dos Rios Cantina and Tequila Lounge at 310 Court Ave. in Des Moines. It will be located in the new building next to Spaghetti Works and is expected to be ready for business by early October.
Karl Alterman has partnered with Pam and Harry Bookey, owners of the building, to open the restaurant.
Dos Rios (“Two Rivers” – get it?) will be a contemporary Mexican restaurant. It is modeled after MoQuila in Boca Raton, Fla., which Alterman and Rich Garcia opened in 2005. Garcia will be the director of operations and culinary director for Dos Rios.
This will not be the Mexican restaurant most people in this country are accustomed to, Alterman said. Rather, the décor and food will be reflective of a contemporary cosmopolitan Mexican restaurant.
Alterman said a lot of research and time went into finding traditional and authentic Mexican food and drink recipes. They use local ingredients to prepare the recipes and fresh as often as possible. Cocktails, for example, will be made with fresh fruits, not sour mix, Alterman said. The signature of the restaurant is guacamole made fresh at tableside. It will also slow cook meats and poultry on a rotisserie spit and offer “platos chicos,” or small plates, and “antojitos,” or first bites, to encourage diners to share tastes.
I love that fun events are heading to Court Avenue, but the Mexican Restaurant is what really excites me. Court Ave really has come a very, very long way, and it seems that each step of the way great decisions are being made! Kudos!
