Darwin Henriquez is launching a new nighttime concept called Darwin’s After Dark at Mindpub Cafe at 554 E. Fort Ave. in Riverside. Mindpub Cafe will remain open for breakfast and lunch service.
Henriquez, a cook at Mindpub Cafe, is from El Salvador. The menu at Darwin’s After Dark will feature different sandwiches with Central and South American influence.
Mindpub Cafe owner Nikki Marks told SouthBMore.com that Henriquez has been working there for three years and has become a great friend of their family.
“He’s always in the kitchen making interesting things for me,” Marks said. “I’ve fallen in love with El Salvadoran-type food.”
Darwin’s After Dark will debut on Wednesday, March 19th. It will be open Wednesday and Thursday from 5pm to 9pm and Friday and Saturday from 5pm to 10pm.
Mindpub Cafe has a new carry-out window on the front of the building. While Darwin’s After Dark will utilize this window and focus on carry-out, there will also be bar seating for dine-in customers.
Proteins for sandwiches include Salvadoran-spiced fried chicken, mojo pulled pork, carne asada, and smashed Salvadoran-spiced frijoles.
Sandwiches include the El Pollo Flaco with thin-sliced Salvadoran-spiced fried chicken, smashed frijoles, onion, avocado, pickled jalapeno, Oaxaca cheese, and shredded lettuce on chipotle-seared bread; the El Cerdo Picantemojo with pulled pork, curtido (tangy cabbage, carrot slaw), guacacaca sauce (cilantro, avocado sauce), cojita cheese, and fresh herbs on chipotle seared bread; and the Que Pedo with smashed Salvadoran spiced frijoles, curtido, radish, tomato, onion, avocado, cojito cheese, and fresh herbs on chipotle-seared bread.
The menu also includes a salad with lettuce, cortido, jalapeno, elote loco (crazy corn), radish, avocado, onion, tomato, cojito cheese, fresh herbs, and chipotle vinaigrette.
Fried plantains, fries, and elote loco are available as sides.
Tres leches cake will be offered as a dessert.
The drink menu will have house-made horchata, which can be “dirty” by adding liquor; Mexican beers; and Jarritos Mexican sodas.
Marks believes it will “very popular” and said it will grow at a pace that feels “comfortable.”
Marks wants to eventually pass the business on to someone and loves the idea of that being Henriquez. She noted this is a step towards that process.
Marks is also excited to add another dining option to Fort Ave. “We have really good restaurants, it’s like a little restaurant row,” she said. “All the restaurant owners are super supportive and really good friends.”
Photos courtesy of Darwin’s After Dark
