But now, Figo36 has closed, and Raydal is changing the space into an entirely new restaurant that captures founder and CEO Dalton Espaillat’s background in Santiago, Dominican Republic.
Figo36 served modern Italian food. in the NoDa space that once housed Orto. Joshua Vasko
MaBí Cocina Tropical will feature authentic Dominican food in an affordable and a lively — yet family friendly — atmosphere.
“The best way to describe it is going into the restaurant, you pretty much are coming into my hometown — to my home — and experiencing my culture,” Espaillat told CharlotteFive. “It’s not going to be intimidating.”
The move taps into the rapid growth in Charlotte’s Caribbean community , which has been met with new food and drink spots including Crav’n Caribbean, Panzu Brewery, The Reggae Lounge and Caribbean Hut, to name just a few.
Raydal Hospitality owner Dalton Espaillat has closed Figo36, and a Dominican restaurant is taking its place. Raydal Hospitality
What to expect
For now, the space is closed for a quick transformation. But the planning has been underway for a long time, Espaillat said.
“There aren’t many places paying specific homage to the D.R. and I personally am excited to create space for this culture,” he said in a news release. “While we have enjoyed working on Figo36, we’ve been wanting to do the MaBí concept for some time. We have the space and the time is now.”
Dalton Espaillat’s Raydal Hospitality includes Sabor, Three Amigos, La Caseta and now MaBí Concina Tropical. Alex Cason/CharlotteFive
MaBí Concina Tropical’s concise menu will offer a lineup of fresh fruit batidas (like a milkshake or smoothie), along with sandwiches and a few main dishes.
You’ll be able to stop in for lunch or dinner Tuesday through Sunday to explore Latin foods found in the Dominican Republic, including pastelitos and empanadas, chicharrones and Dominican spiced chicken. Cuban bread will be made fresh in house, along with the restaurant’s sauces.
Watch out for its highlights, including:
C harcoal chicken — a recipe Espaillat has been honing for years
Ropa vieja
Dominican smashburger
Cuban sandwich
A lunch special with meat and two sides for $15
Mabi Tropical Cocina’s sister restaurant Sabor serves a similar Dominican Burger (aka The Riki Taki). That torta includes ground beef, crunchy cabbage, tomatoes, rosada sauce on a toasted bolillo bun. Alex Cason/CharlotteFive
On Saturday and Sunday, MaBí Concina Tropical will offer brunch with a Dominican twist that includes dishes with fried salami, cheese and yuca hash. (You’ll find yuca throughout the menu, enabling several items including the empanadas to be gluten free.)
The beverage program will rely heavily on infusions with the tropical flavors of the Caribbean, with coconut, passion fruit and guava. Among the craft cocktails you’ll want to look out for is a banana-infused old fashioned.
“There will be a lot of fun things in there,” Espaillat said.
The patio at Figo36, soon to be transformed into MaBí Concina Tropical. Lorenza Medley/CharlotteFive
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