For anyone that has been anticipating the reopening Ben Poremba’s Mexican concept Nixta, the wait is just about over. Nixta will host a three-day-long soft opening at its new home in the Delmar Maker District later this month, happening on Friday, Dec. 27, Saturday, Dec. 28 and Sunday, Dec. 29.
After that, the restaurant will close for a few days and reopen in the new year, on Friday, Jan. 3. Reservations for the eatery will open tomorrow, Tuesday, Dec. 17, and will be available on Resy or on Nixta’s website.
The eatery previously operated in Botanical Heights at 1621 Tower Grove Ave., but closed at the end of 2023, along with two other of Poremba’s Bengelina Hospitality Group restaurants, Olio and Elaia, which were also located in Botanical Heights, but are also slated to reopen in the Delmar Maker District.
Nixta’s new location will be at 5232 Delmar Blvd., in the same development that houses Steve’s Hot Dogs and Alpha Brewing Co. Distillery.
While Poremba said that being part of the new development didn’t allow for the exterior of the restaurant to have the same colorful vibe as its previous space, inside, guests can expect an atmosphere that’s driven by the use of vibrant and what he called “loud” colors.
“It’s definitely different, but color is a big theme,” Poremba said of the decor.
Poremba recently shared a few photos of the interior on his Instagram and the pictures depict the use of hues that range from light mauve to earth tones and turquoise, along with rustic details, potted plants and artwork. The new space is larger than the Botanical Heights restaurant, and with 65 seats available inside, it offers seating for around 15 more guests than its previous location. There’s additional patio seating that Poremba said will offer double the seating of the interior.
New to the Delmar location is a dedicated seafood bar area, where guests can sit and watch the chefs prepare menu items like ceviche. Guests can expect the same food and drink program at the new location, along with something that will create “party vibes” on Friday and Saturday nights.
Another new element at the Delmar location will be the addition of a DJ booth that guests will see upon entering the restaurant. On weekend nights the establishment will extend its hours and guests can expect DJs that will focus on playing Latin music. When asked if there will be room for dancing during the DJ sets, Poremba replied with a laugh, “that depends on the crowd.”
This article appears in December 2024.