The Cohn Restaurant Group is whittling down its concepts. The hospitality group's former 100 Wines space at 1027 University Avenue in Hillcrest will soon become BO-beau Kitchen + Caché, a dual concept that will include a fourth location of CRG's California-French restaurant with a backroom speakeasy and a nextdoor upscale taco shop called Libertad Tacos a la Brasa that will be implanted into the recently-acquired adjacent space.
The Cohn Restaurant Group is on a repurposing spree. We recently broke the news that their OB Warehouse would soon close and the bi-level space would receive a renovation to install a Coin Haus Beer + Games on the bottom level and a Breakfast Republic in the second tier. In Hillcrest, the Cohn Group has taken over the space at 1023 University Avenue that formerly housed Cronburg & Becker Interior Design and will combine it with neighboring former-100 Wines for BO-beau Kitchen + Caché, which is currently receiving an overhaul by longtime CRG designer Philippe Beltran, who is also the managing partner on this project.
The adjoining space will become Libertad! Tacos a la Brasa, offering counter-service and a fast-casual menu specializing in tacos la brasa cooked over coals with housemade tortillas, as well as versions of Chef Deborah Scott's Baja-inspired Mexican street food dishes like those served at Harbor Island's Coasterra combined with Balboa Park's Casa 1915 concept, including tostadas, ceviches, burritos, tortas and more. The star of the kitchen will be a custom made Caja China box oven with a Santa Maria grill.
Behind both restaurants will be the "cache" portion of the eatery - an elegant speakeasy with a secret entrance that will offer an upscale decor and craft cocktails. All locations will have a combined full liquor license, so expect champagne and absinthe on one side and tequila and micheladas on the other.
BO-beau Kitchen + Caché & Tacos Libertad is anticipated to open in March/April. For more information on the Cohn Restaurant Group, visit cohnrestaurants.com.
