An acclaimed California restaurant is coming to Nashville Yards this summer for its first out-of-state location.
Puesto tells the story of first generation Mexican American founders, the Adler and Lombrozo brothers, through a modern California lens.
Founded in 2012, Puesto is known for its crispy cheese wrapped tacos on hand-pressed blue corn tortillas, 17-made to order salsas, brewed-in-house beers and its wide agave spirits selection.
Puesto now has eight locations across California as well as a presence in multiple stadiums.
The team began looking to expand outside of California five years ago, originally eyeing Texas, but after noticing Nashville’s growing tourism scene and conventions, and co-founder Isidoro Lombrozo connection as a Vanderbilt grad, shifted focus to Music City.
“When the rest of us went to Nashville, we immediately fell in love with the city,” Alex Adler, co-founder, told the Business Journal. “We took a tour of the whole city. I think what we liked a lot about Nashville Yards is it comes together with a lot of different attractions, The Pinnacle is incredible … and then obviously there’s going to be great restaurants, there’s residential, the Amazon towers, we’re still close to Broadway, but it’s going to be a different crowd that we’re drawing.”
Puesto will sit on the ground floor of residential tower The Everett, steps away from The Pinnacle music venue. The restaurant serves multiple demographics, from families to business meetings to date nights.
They enlisted Nashville-based Powell to help bring Mexico City’s vibrancy to Nashville with saturated pinks, deep teal, custom tilework, artwork and lots of personality.
“We tasked them with creating a vibrant Mexico City look, but not an old traditional Mexican restaurant,” Alex Adler said. “We feel like its something that could definitely be in Mexico City and that’s what we go for, that’s our goal with Puesto.”
Puesto will be open for lunch and dinner service with menu highlights including the filet mignon taco, with avocado and pistachio serrano salsa; the short rib quesabirria taco with Jalisco salsa, radish and guacamole; as well as the chicken al pastor taco with hibiscus & chipotle tinga, avocado and piña habanero pico.
Tacos are accompanied by a variety of ceviche’s, shareables, bowls and enchiladas.
“Our biggest thing is probably the tortilla, that really makes the taco, as well as our ingredients, but the fact that they’re being made all day at every single restaurant, from fresh masa that we get every day, that really makes the taco and the rest our food very special,” Isidoro Lombrozo told the Business Journal. “Having been back [to Nashville] in the past three years four or five times, still feeling that void that we can definitely fill and are excited to fill with our brand and style of Mexican food.”
Similar to the tortillas for the food program, Puesto squeezes its juices for its beverage program in house and also offers a deep line up of tequilas and mezcals.
Its Puesto brews range from a Mexican lager to an IPA.
“Beer is really well known in San Diego, but we didn’t feel like they paired very well with what we were serving so we wanted to do our own,” Alex Adler said.
Puesto was represented by Jim Crocenzi, of Retail Asset Solutions, and Carrie Bobb, of Foundry Commercial.
The restaurant joins other Nashville Yards food and beverage tenants including Fogo de Chao, Ocean Prime, Culaccino, Leiper’s Fork Distillery and more.
“Puesto is beloved in San Diego for its outrageous guacamole, amazing margaritas, award winning authentic tacos and fun atmosphere” said Cary Mack, managing partner of Southwest Value Partners, in a news release. “Thriving as a Mexican restaurant in San Diego requires a level of authenticity and perfection not easily matched, and we couldn’t be more excited to bring these awesome flavors to Nashville!”
Read the full story from Nashville Business Journal here.
View renderings of Puesto at Nashville Yards here.
Read the press release here.