ARLINGTON, Va.聽鈥� Mike Isabella loves a good margarita 鈥� and on July 30, he鈥檒l have a new place in town to get one.
That鈥檚 when the 鈥淭op Chef鈥� star and local restaurateur will open his latest concept, , in the Ballston neighborhood of Arlington, Virginia.
Having already tackled Greek cuisine with , Italian with , and gourmet sandwiches with , Isabella is now adding Mexican to his ever-growing resume.
It鈥檚 a decision, he says, just makes sense. 鈥淚t鈥檚 something I鈥檝e cooked for years and it鈥檚 one of my favorite foods to eat. Plus, I love margaritas.鈥�
The food options at Pepita will include 鈥渁 lot of the classics that you鈥檙e used to seeing at cantinas,鈥� Isabella says. Ceviche, Mexican-style corn-on-the-cob, tacos, enchiladas and house-made salsas are all featured on the roughly 15-item menu.
The drink menu, on the other hand, has 35 classic Mexican and contemporary American cocktails. Tequila and mezcal are featured prominently in drinks such as margaritas and agave cocktails, but Beverage Director Taha Ismail also mixes it up with tiki drinks, punches, sours and fizzes.
There鈥檚 even a 22-ounce 鈥渓ady marmalade鈥� cocktail to share, served in a gold pineapple-shaped glass 鈥� or to keep to yourself after a long day.
But perhaps the best thing at Pepita is the cantina鈥檚 approach to happy hour. Customers don鈥檛 have to wait until 4 or 5 p.m. to snag a deal. Isabella plans to run an all-day happy hour, rotating between food and drinks every few hours.
鈥淔rom the time we open to the time we close, there will be specials throughout the entire day,鈥� Isabella says. 鈥淚 think it鈥檚 going to be really special and unique.鈥�
If it seems like Isabella鈥檚 name keeps appearing on 4000 block of Wilson Boulevard, it鈥檚 not the margaritas going to your head. Earlier this year, Isabella opened on the same block, and later this summer he plans to open the Japanese noodle bar, Yona, with Jonah Kim at the same location.
鈥淧eople want to be able to get the food that they can get in D.C., but there鈥檚 not a huge selection, so we thought we鈥檇 bring some of our concepts out here,鈥� says Isabella about his decision to open three restaurants in the same neighborhood.
鈥淲e thought it鈥檇 be a great fit.鈥�
So far, he says, it鈥檚 been a huge success 鈥� only, he hasn鈥檛 had much time to enjoy it. After he opens Yona, Isabella says he鈥檚 focused on opening a Kapnos Taverna at Reagan National Airport and Kapnos Kouzina in Bethesda, Maryland.
鈥淲e have a busy year, that鈥檚 what we鈥檙e focusing on right now,鈥� he says.
