Alegria

by Warren Rojas

Restaurateurs Patrick and Julie Bazin are putting down even deeper roots in Vienna, bringing their taqueria/margarita bar concept, Alegria, to bear right next door to their award-winning restaurant, Bazin’s on Church.

Julie says Alegria has been a dream of theirs since Patrick caught the cooking-with-chilies bug as opening chef at Red Sage.

The Bazin clan has long frequented Rio Grande and Oyamel whenever the mood for Mexican would strike, but finally decided it was time they had a go at casual cantina-style dining.

“We will be offering Mexican tacos, ceviches, vegetarian dishes, shellfish and meat dishes as well as daily specials,” Julie predicts, adding that their rotating selection of small plates will run between $3-$15. Patrons should also expect to find a fully stocked bar fielding a host of frosty, fruity margaritas as well as a full complement of machismo-raising tequilas.

And what of that sassy moniker?

The Bazin’s actually crowd-sourced it, calling on their Facebook fans to submit potential names even as they busied themselves with the protracted build-out and menu planning. Julie suggests that “alegria,” which means happiness in Spanish, struck a chord with them on various levels.

“The name says who we are; we love what we do, we love Mexican food and we really love making people HAPPY,” she shares.

Congrats to Vienna resident Greg Bateman for conjuring the winning name; we hear he and seven friends have a VIP table waiting for them on opening night.

111 Church St. NW, Vienna

Open for dinner and late-night dining daily.