Building Buzz

Mala Pata hosts monthly pop-ups ahead of its summer opening—from brunch to prix fixe mezcal dinners to late-night burritos.

While Gateway Plaza’s highly anticipated Mala Pata won’t be open until the summer (stay tuned), the star-studded team is giving Raleighites a taste of what to expect via a residency at Centro with one or two monthly pop-ups. 

So far, the forthcoming Mexican-inspired resto has hosted one quickly soldout brunch in January, with the next one slated for Sunday, Feb. 25. And if it’s anything like the first (see: the ranchero shakshuka, breakfast torta and fried chicken biscuit with red-eye chorizo gravy that puts Bojangles to shame), you’re gonna wanna be there or be square. 

“Ultimately we want Mala Pata to be a neighborhood restaurant that people are able to eat at once or twice a week, versus being a place that people only go to on date night or for a special event,” maintains Davis. “We want to be tied into the neighborhood.”

Adding to the hype of this month’s brunch pop-up will be a collab menu with chef José Rios of The Fearrington House Restaurant, along with drinks from industry vet Courtney Whitley. Co-owner Marshall Davis, who is opening Mala Pata alongside Angela Salamanca (of Ex-Voto, Centro and Gallo Pelón fame), and Eric Montagne and Zack Gragg of Locals Seafood, says the pop-ups are a way for them to work with each other and with potential new team members. 

“We’re all friends outside of work, but we don’t work together often,” he says. “These pop-ups are a way for the five of us to learn what it’s like to be in the kitchen with each other. … It feels good to have five individuals who are super-excited about cooking and open to trying anything.”

Naturally, the pop-ups also serve as a platform for R&D’ing the menu, which Davis says is still being finalized, but will ultimately feature several Oaxacan influences. Their team recently took a trip to the Mexican city to take cooking classes from a local chef to learn about the products and flavors of the cuisines—plus a distillery tour to learn about mezcal production, which will come in handy with Mala Pata’s sister bar Peyote. 

“[Angela and I] take a trip to Oaxaca every time we’re starting something new,” says Davis of the pair’s 12-year history. The trip was a way for the team to “taste some of those things we don’t typically have access to up here, so we can at least retain what the smells, acids and salts are, and have a reference point when we’re recreating things here.” And with some of the food products and mezcal they brought back, they also plan to host an exclusive prix fixe dinner soon (!).

Along with the Centro residency, Mala Pata also plans to host burrito/taco pop-ups on Friday/Saturday nights at area bars like Natural Science, Standard Beer + Food and Person Street Bar as a way for them to get feedback from the community. “Ultimately we want Mala Pata to be a neighborhood restaurant that people are able to eat at once or twice a week, versus being a place that people only go to on date night or for a special event,” maintains Davis. “We want to be tied into the neighborhood.” And, clearly, Raleighites are accepting them with open arms—and satisfied bellies. 

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