Come for the plates of mofongo and other Caribbean cuisine. Stay late for the nightclub with a Latin vibe.
809 Lounge & Restaurant opens today (March 11) in downtown Syracuse. It’s located at 206 S. Warren St., in the spot once occupied by Otro Cinco. (Don’t be confused by the “809” in the name. That’s a reference to the area code in the Dominican Republic, not the street address).
The food menu features items from across the Caribbean, with a specific focus on dishes from Puerto Rico and the Dominican, said owner Luis Colón Torres, who is originally from Puerto Rico.
“We’re doing the more Latin Caribbean vibe and style of food,” he said, adding that the Puerto Rican dish of mashed plantains —mofongo— will be featured heavily in the menu. The menu is limited now, but is expected to double in size soon.
The fully stocked bar will heavily feature rum cocktails, because they are popular in the Caribbean, Colón Torres said. But there will be other spirits, including some tequila.
After 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturday, the restaurant turns into a nightclub, featuring DJs and occasional live music with a Latin dance beat.
The club, Colón Torres said, will be a bit “upscale,” with a “professional vibe” that includes a dress code.
“Since I moved here to Syracuse I kind of figured (out) there isn’t a place where Latinos, professionals, can come and have a safe haven — basically to just be themselves in a vibe where they feel secure,“ Colón Torres said.
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With both the restaurant and the club, Colón Torres said his goal is to provide something different from other places.
“I don’t want to step on anyone’s toes,” said Colón Torres, who also owns Guadalajara Mexican Restaurant a few blocks away on West Water Street and Guadalajara Mexican Grill in East Syracuse.
“The food, the drinks and everything here will be things you don’t see anywhere else in Syracuse,” he said.
The 809 Lounge and Restaurant opens at 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays and at noon on Sundays, with the club portion starting at 11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays.
On weekdays, it will continue to operate Express Tacos by Guadalajara, a take-out place.
It’s related to a small group of businesses with three locations in Rochester. There, they’re called 809 Sports Bar and Restaurant. Colón Torres bought the rights to the name, recipes and other assets to open a version in Syracuse.
Don Cazentre writes for NYup.com, syracuse.com and The Post-Standard. Reach him at dcazentre@nyup.com, or follow him at NYup.com, on Twitter or Facebook.