Dominican restaurant MaBí will replace Figo36 in NoDa

A new Dominican restaurant called MaBí (pronounced Ma-BEE) will replace Figo36 in NoDa.

Why it matters: Owner Dalton Espaillat tells Axios he's wanted to open an authentic Dominican restaurant for years.

Context: Espaillat, who is originally from the Dominican Republic, purchased Figo36 last year intending to convert it into a different restaurant eventually.

• His restaurant group, Raydal Hospitality Group includes popular local Latin restaurants Sabor Latin Street Grill, La Caseta and Three Amigos, to name a few.
• Figo36 closed Sunday, July 28 and will reopen as MaBí on Aug. 13.

What to expect: Family-friendly vibes, approachable food that's fairly priced and a cocktail program designed by local mixologist Larry Suggs .

• Much of the decor inside the Figo36 space won't change much as it converts to MaBí.

Dig in: Expect tropical dishes popular in the Caribbean like pastelitos, empanadas, chicharrones, Dominican spiced chicken, coconut rice and beans, black cakes and drinks inspired by the many fruits and flavors of the Dominican.

Between the lines: MaBí is a fermented, non-alcoholic, bark drink popular in the D.R.

• "We want to attract Dominicans just by the name," he said.

Stop by: 416 E 36th St.

• Open for lunch, dinner and brunch on the weekends.