Photo by Chris Rank
Edgewood staple El Tesoro opens its second location today—this one inside Wild Heaven’s brewery in West End. Located just off the BeltLine, Wild Heaven previously served its own menu of standard bar fare—wings, burgers, and tacos—but “it wasn’t the destination that El Tesoro is,” Wild Heaven president Nick Purdy says. “This is a win for everyone.”
Open seven days a week with the same operating hours as Wild Heaven, El Tesoro West End features the same menu as the original location with street-style tacos, burritos, and mulitas (“supercharged” quesadillas). Patrons will order at the counter and the food will be brought to the table. (Wild Heaven has 100 seats inside and another 150 outside.) To pair with the new style of cuisine, Wild Heaven launched Lager Libre Tex-Mex Lager. Available on tap, it’s a yellow beer (15 percent cornmeal) with a light crisp and a lime garnish. The brewery is also working on licensing to be able to offer cocktails such as margaritas.
Photo by Chris Rank
Photo by Chris Rank
“Everyone loves a good brewery hang. We’re bringing together two brands in a new way. It’s fun and exciting,” Purdy says. He’s most excited about El Tesoro’s tostones with guacamole. “I’ve been obsessed—the crunchiness mixed with the guac—it’s like a mega chip but with a slightly softer inside. It’s salty, slightly sweet, oh my goodness…” he says.
Wild Heaven’s original location in Avondale Estates does not have a kitchen, so no restaurant plans are under consideration. However, the brewery’s Toco Hills outpost—scheduled to open next year—will have Fox Bros. Bar-B-Q inside. “It all happened organically, but having a little something different at each of our locations might make sense,” Purdy says.
Photo by Chris Rank
