Local talent Traci Des Jardins has been busy with the opening of her new restaurant—with the Presidio Trust and with support from Bon Appétit Management Company—in the Presidio, The Commissary, and now there’s her second project opening Wednesday October 8th: ARGUELLO. While Commissary is more Cal-Spanish, Arguello is all about home-style and authentic Mexican cooking, featuring many recipes from Des Jardins’ abuelita (it will be different than Mijita’s menu). You can take a look at the menu here. They’ll even be making tortillas on an outdoor comal.
Like at Commissary, she is joined by Culinary Director Robbie Lewis. There’s also a full bar with craft cocktails from Enrique Sanchez (La Mar, Tres Agaves), with 50 tequilas.
It’s opening in the landmark Presidio Officers’ Club, with 118 seats, plus a heated patio with a fire pit and sheltering wall, so don’t let a windy day intimidate you. You can come by for a sunny lunch (the menu is casual and easy) and things ramp up a bit more for dinner.
Interior designer Laura Cook designed a space that feels modern, but still has many original fixtures, and Studio Terpeluk milled the 125-year-old Douglas fir used for the bar—it was salvaged from a historic Presidio building. And in case you want to brush up on your SF history, the restaurant is named after Luis Antonio Arguello, who served as commander in the Presidio from 1806 until 1822, when he became the first Mexican governor of Alta California. 50 Moraga Ave. at Arguello, 415-561-3650.
Arguello’s dining room. Photo: ©Henrik Kam 2014.
