David Bardallis: Sabor Latino re-opens with new owners
Sabor Latino (211 N. Main St.) re-opened on Saturday, July 18, after a week of renovations—and it’s all theirs. (Or almost all theirs—they have a lot of help from operational partner Khai Lee.)
Since moving to Ann Arbor with wife Jen in 2006, chef and general manager Marco has worked in the kitchens of Mélange and Vinology, as well as managed Café Habana and Blue Tractor. But he’s always wanted a place of his own.
“Marco has been waiting for a chance to use the culinary talent he first developed in his family’s kitchen in Guanajuato, Mexico, in a more creative way,” said Jen, who is helping with marketing and customer relations. “When Sabor’s previous owner had a new business venture to pursue, Marco saw the window of opportunity and we jumped at the chance to make his dream of owning a restaurant come true.”
At first glance, not too much has changed—and that’s by design. But Marco and Jen do have plans to add to the appeal of the restaurant, which first opened in 1998.
“We want to maintain the comfortable atmosphere of the original Sabor Latino and continue offering a quick stop for weekday lunch, but we also want to provide a venue to enjoy a relaxing, non-rushed dinner or weekend breakfast,” said Jen.
The original menu remains largely intact, with a number of new dishes added, such as shrimp a la diabla, as well as a new weekend brunch section featuring tastes from Mexico, Cuba, Venezuela, Colombia, Costa Rica, Argentina, and more.
“Our mission is to give diners the most authentic Latin-American dining experience,” said Jen. “We're also hoping to introduce some new flavors to Ann Arbor, such as traditional South American mate tea.”
To enhance that dining experience, the walls of the new Sabor Latino now sport original photographs (available for purchase) of Latin and South American locations taken by local artists.
“We want to use the photography to showcase the vibrant Latino culture and hardworking people so our customers can also see the authenticity of the culture while they taste it,” said Jen.
Late-night hours Thursday through Sunday have been added to serve those who are hungry after a long evening out on the town, and the restaurant also now offers catering service.
For menus and more information, visit the new Sabor Latino on the web at www.annarborsabor.com.
Comments
EpicPortions.com
Wed, Aug 5, 2009 : 1:13 p.m.
I will have to give them another try. Visited a few weeks ago and was greatly disappointed.
Phil Dokas
Sun, Aug 2, 2009 : 8:07 p.m.
I just ate there for the first time under the new ownership. The menu has a lot of new items and everything we had was delicious, the old items were all cooked better than ever before. Looks a lot nicer inside and the outdoor seating was nice too. Add a liquor license into the picture and it'd really be something fantastic.
Marc
Wed, Jul 29, 2009 : 9:27 p.m.
Have you tried the Yerba Mate at the tea store not far from your restaurant on 4th Ave down from the Co-Op? It is the best I have had in the US! I like the green mate but they also have a toasted one. No frilly blends, just great mate!
linda278
Mon, Jul 27, 2009 : 8:50 p.m.
wow! this place has changed for the better!.i only came to eat once about 3 years ago and it was awful but the food is awesome now and the restaurant looks amazing! i am so glad that u guys re-open "sabor latino".i will be back!
saborlatinoA2
Fri, Jul 24, 2009 : 8:09 p.m.
Great comments and ideas shared - Will try to incorporate some Peruvian & Guatemalan specials! We'll start tweeting them daily: @saborlatinoA2.
roadsidedinerlover
Fri, Jul 24, 2009 : 2:52 p.m.
I agree with Dave and Susan. I stopped going there because the quality of the food went downhill. I also thought the servers weren't up to snuff.Hopefully this will all change. I would like to see Guatemalan cuisine please!!
susan
Fri, Jul 24, 2009 : 8:26 a.m.
Love S.L. Change is always good! Looking forward to trying out the new menu! Suggestion: more atmosphere, ie: dim the lights and use candles, authentic latin music and scrub the place up.
Anonymous Commentor
Thu, Jul 23, 2009 : 11:26 p.m.
Yay! As much as I love the place, I haven't patronized S.L. too much lately. The menu seemed kind of stale to me. I'll be psyched if they change/expand it. Looking forward to checking the place out again.
Matt Kaz
Thu, Jul 23, 2009 : 10:41 p.m.
Looking forward to it! I've always loved Sabor Latino, so hope too much doesn't change as far as the quality of the food...
Chrysta Cherrie
Thu, Jul 23, 2009 : 10:26 p.m.
Looking forward to trying some of the new items, as Sabor Latino's been one of my favorite restaurants in Washtenaw County for several years. The brunch menu looks particularly appealing, and I'm relieved to see that the enchiladas aren't going anywhere.
saborlatinoA2
Thu, Jul 23, 2009 : 5:28 p.m.
Thanks for the great write-up! We're excited we were able to continue to make Sabor Latino available to Ann Arbor.
Jennifer Shikes Haines
Wed, Jul 22, 2009 : 11:09 a.m.
This sounds like there will be wonderful new changes. I'm excited to try the brunch.