Dan Suro is no stranger to the Philadelphia restaurant and hospitality scene, as he is the son of David Suro, the restaurateur who founded one of the city’s first white tablecloth Mexican restaurants, Tequilas, back in the 1980s.
After a fire caused the restaurant to close for over two years, the rebuilt and reimagined space has allowed Dan to introduce his own establishment, writes Maddy Sweitzer-Lamme for Philadelphia Magazine.
Dan is the owner of La Jefa, an all-day cafe and cocktail bar located in the back half of Tequila’s building.
At La Jefa, there is an emphasis on natural wine and agave-focused cocktails.
For Dan, the new establishment is part of the next evolution of Tequilas, aiming to continue pushing forward the conversation surrounding Mexican food in Philadelphia.
Menu items include torta ahogadas, chilaquiles omelets, and fluffy grapefruit garibaldis during the day, and carne en su jugo during dinner.
Suro calls it Guadaladelphia food “because we want to represent what’s going on right now in Mexico, and the connections between Mexico and Philly, how food has evolved down here,” he said.
Beyond the food, La Jefa’s decor, tiles, counters, chairs, and tables all came from Mexico.
There is also a coffee program where beans are sourced from Mexico.
Read more about La Jefa and how it merges cultures in Philadelphia Magazine.
_____
