Sprawling Mexican Riviera-Style Restaurant Opening in Chandler Next Week

A sprawling Mexican restaurant called Las Palmas Cantina will be opening next week in downtown Chandler. Las Palmas Cantina will spotlight coastal Mexican cuisine. The 5,000-square-foot space is a project by Julian Wright, the restaurateur behind Canteen Modern Tequila and Pedal Haus Brewery.

The concept for Las Palmas Cantina was born slowly during Wright's trips to Mexican beach towns. Playa Del Carmen and Tulum especially influenced him.

An indoor-outdoor atmosphere will look to bring the spirit of Mexican beachside dining to Chandler. The space will be indoor-outdoor. It will have two bars and two patios. Garage doors will lead back into the building from more than one outdoor area. There will be an elevated deck.

Food will be by Luis Millan. Wright and Millan have history. Millan helped open Canteen Modern Tequila. Since then, he has spent some time cooking at The Mission. At Las Palmas, the focus will be on light fare, street food, and shared plates.

Dishes will be wide-ranging. A Yucatan-style ceviche will feature corvina, grapefruit, tomatos and jalapenos. A mussels bowl will unite coconut, lime, and pineapple. There will also be grilled octopus, zucchini and charred tomato tacos, and a green salad with shrimp, corn, pepitas, and cotija cheese.

A Mexican beach concept demands booze. Las Palmas' drink program will lean heavily on tequila, mezcal, and rum. There will also be agua frescas and beers brewed exclusively for the restaurant.

The cooking, eating, drinking, and atmosphere will hum along in a 100-year-old building.

Las Palmas will be soft-opening on May 9, a date that could change. You can track the date on the restaurant's Facebook page. The place will be holding a grand opening on May 19 from 5 to 10 p.m. Then, 50 percent of proceeds will go to ICAN, a Chandler charity.

Las Palmas Cantina. 95 West Boston Street, Chandler.
Open daily from 4 p.m. to close.