Eats Beat: La Perla revamp adds more Latin fusion to the tequila-bar fun
La Perla is changing, and for the better.
Opened downtown as a Cubano-style tequileria named La Perla Negra, the revamped La Perla is expanding its menu this week. It’s now a Latin fusion restaurant with new dishes by former gastropub chef Fabián Alvarado.
Yes, the Cuban sandwich is still on the menu. But now it also includes dishes such as a Peruvian aji amarillo pepper chicken sandwich, garlic shrimp, tortilla soup or South American steak churrascos marinated in Peruvian “tiger’s milk” with tamarind soy.
A recent “Taco Tuesday” preview ($9) offered redfish tacos with lime rice and beans. There’s an avocado filled with seared tuna, or a power salad with greens, tuna or chicken and a ginger vinaigrette, leaving room for upgraded dessert apple empanadas or other sweets.
La Perla also has an improved patio. It still has all the tequilas, mojitos and the housemade sangria, but now also has enough of a menu to bring customers back.
It’s open weekdays and Saturdays for lunch and dinner, Sundays for a brunch menu.
Be patient. It’s the first week with a new style and crew; 817-882-8108, lpnegra.com.
More for Southlake
Two big openings in Southlake this week: Taverna Rossa in Park Village and Redrock Canyon Grill, a casual grill and steakhouse from the same Oklahoma-based chain as Charleston’s.
For more on new Southlake restaurants, see the Wednesday column at dfw.com/eatsbeat.
A new Shack in town
Jambo’s BBQ Shack has worked out problems and now plans to open its third location by May 1 at 1724 W. Division St., Arlington.
The Lovato family, who bought the Jambo’s in Rendon and expanded to a Little Road location, tangled with the city over murals and city code rules at the former Arlington Steak House.
Look for the new location, and until then try Jambo’s at 2502 Little Road; 682-213-2780, jambosbarbequeshack.com.
Grapevine gets goose
A Blue Goose Cantina is near opening on Grapevine Mills Circle, the first Tarrant County location for the Dallas favorite; bluegoosecantina.com.
Bud Kennedy: 817-390-7538, bud@star-telegram.com, @EatsBeat. His column appears Wednesdays in Life & Arts and Fridays in DFW.com Weekend.
This story was originally published April 24, 2016 at 11:06 AM with the headline "Eats Beat: La Perla revamp adds more Latin fusion to the tequila-bar fun."