"STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- With a debut of food and drink on Sunday, Sofia's Taqueria plotted its path to the inaugural days of business at 977 Bay Street.
The Mexican restaurant, hoping for an early December official opening in Rosebank, worked out its kinks on a "friends and family" gathering to test-drive the food and drink.
And as proprietors Peter Botros, Ignacio Garcia and Philip Farinacci sort through feedback from Sunday's dinner, here's a taste of what's to come."
The article provides sneak-peak video and photography.
"STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Rosebank has a new restaurant -- Sofia’s Taqueria located at 977 Bay Street -- which plans for a soft opening Monday, Dec. 3.
And if that address sounds familiar, it’s because it served as the former home to Franco-American Zest and Czech-inspired Korzo Klub.
When longtime friends Peter Botros and Ignacio Garcia toured the three-story building, they knew the spot would be perfect for a Mexican restaurant concept they’d been bouncing around for years.
Check out the video to see how their taco and tequila dreams have played out so far as Sofia’s builds up to lunch, dinner and weekend brunch."
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"STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Ignacio Garcia is stepping into his first food venture: The long-time server and Stone House restaurant captain partners with his boss, Peter Botros, in the endeavor.
The place will be called Sofia's Taqueria, a name taken from Ignacio's daughter who has "an amazing, energetic personality," Botros said. "And the name has a really good ring to it...it's the traditional Mexican spelling of 'Sophia.'"
Sofia's Restaurant takes root at 977 Bay Street, former home to recently closed Korzo Klub and, prior to that, Zest.
The building's archways and outdoor courtyard criss-crossed with a grapevine ceiling lends itself to a Mexican restaurant, said Ignacio.
"We can do a great job representing Mexican food," said Peter.