Mexican restaurant coming to Five Points

Three veteran restaurateurs are pooling their talents to bring tacos, burritos and other authentic Mexican street foods to the heart of historic Five Points in Jacksonville.

Taqueria CINco hopes to open Aug. 27 at 809 Lomax St. The 700-square-foot restaurant will seat 65 people inside and on its back outdoor patio.

The restaurant is a collaboration by Eddy Escriba, Matt Kemper and Marco Monroy, who want it to reflect genuine hospitality, promote community, highlight the arts and serve great food.

"We want to be part of this community," Escriba said. "We'd like to show people and welcome people and let them know that this a community restaurant. That we're locally owned and hopefully, they like our food.  We have no doubt they'll like our food."

Escriba said the focus is traditional recipes inspired by his travels through Mexico, that country's culture and family traditions. Their tacos, for example, are served on 100 percent whole kernel corn masa, not from processed corn flour, the menu shows.

They combine old world techniques with innovative presentations to convey their interpretations of regional Mexican cuisine. All their dishes use local and authentic imported ingredients, he said.

"I don't think anybody is bringing the food and style of food that we're bringing to Five Points," said Escriba, noting their menu is different from other local Mexican restaurants. "The authenticity of our food is a big plus, and the ingredients we're working with are better."

Another plus, he said, is diners are more knowledgeable about food and discerning when it comes to what they eat.

"I think we're in a market where because of the demographics, people will be more in tune with what's going on in the food world and will be inclined to choose our food over just a plain carne asada taco place. There is a difference," Escriba said.

Unique tacos are a key part of the restaurant's menu.

Among the varieties are  tacos al pastor, prepared with Mexico City-style pork with pineapple, lime, cilantro and onion; saudero, which is braised beef brisket and charred green onion tacos; ribeye cecina, featuring salt- and lime-cured beef with charred onions; and the local catch will be either fresh fish or shrimp with Yucatan cabbage slaw and Chipolte mayo.

Vegetarian options include such as nopales, which is grilled cactus with salsa quemada and Cotija cheese, and repollitos, which is black mole-glazed queso fresco. There also will be Mexican street corn, burritos, tostados and quesadillas.

The weekend brunch menu features breakfast tacos and burritos along with chilaquiles rojos and menudo.

Beer and wine will be available, he said.

The three partners have extensive experience in the local restaurant and hospitality industry.

Escriba and Monroy are cousins who were among the co-founders of downtown Jacksonville's Burrito Gallery in 2005. Four years later, Escriba and Monroy along with others opened Uptown Market in Springfield.

Monroy and a cousin subsequently launched Quick and Dirty Dogs/Dos Vatos Taco food cart. Escriba also helped open Crispy's Springfield Gallery.

A veteran chef, Kemper brings culinary expertise after leading restaurant kitchens including KC Crave at Jacksonville Beach and Mezza Restaurant and Bar in Neptune Beach.

"Matt is bringing another element to our food, and creativity when it comes to the design and feel of the place," Escriba said.

They want Taqueria CINco to also promote the local, national and international art community. The restaurant will serve as "a creative space for chefs, artists and musicians to gain exposure, network and collaborate," Escriba said.

Well-known Jacksonville artist Mark George currently is working on some pieces for the restaurant. A mural artist is working on one of the restaurant's interior walls, he said.

They also hope to host pop-up art shows, artist receptions and local musicians, he said.

Escriba said their goal is to become an integral part of the vibrant, welcoming Five Points community.

"We seek to invest and grow in this culturally rich community and continue our involvement and service to the neighborhood," he said.

The restaurant will be open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday-Wednesday, and from 11 a.m. to midnight Thursday-Saturday.

Taqueria CINco will be among the most recent restaurants to open or plan to open in Five Points including Derby House Diner, Escape Restaurant and Bar, and Safe Harbor Seafood, which intends to open at Marah Brewing Co.

Teresa Stepzinski: (904) 359-4075