Mesa’s owner Raul Reyes is making waves in Oak Cliff again.
This time, he’s bringing his flair for seafood to the Bishop Arts District with a new restaurant located at the intersection of Davis Street and Woodlawn Avenue, which used to be an auto shop called El Carrizal until a few months ago. He’s going to call his new place, at 451 West Davis Street, Ceviche: Shuck on Davis.
I noticed the for-sale disappeared two weekends ago. Usually, when this happens on Davis Street, that means food is coming soon after. When I saw workers doing demolition at the property, I stopped to inquire with workers.
“Is this another mechanic’s shop?”
“No.”
“A restaurant?”
“Yes.”
“Who’s the owner?”
“He’s right over there.”
And there he was, chef Raul Reyes. The executive chef and owner of Mesa, which is just a mile away on Jefferson Boulevard, was standing in front of me. The same hands that once prepared glorious seafood for Beyonce was now helping two guys tear down a wall.
Reyes tells me he’s opening another Mesa in Southlake, but this 90-year-old spot—one block from Bishop and Davis—will soon be called Ceviche: Shuck on Davis. For those of you who’ve had Reyes’ seafood at Mesa or La Palapa Veracruzana, I bet your toes are curling up right now just thinking about his ceviche.
Workers say construction might wrap up by the end of summer, and outdoor seating might be in the works.
[Update: We previously made the mistake of calling Reyes’ restaurant “Ceviche: Shark on Davis.” We have since made the correction.]
