El Pacifico Mexican Seafood, a new concept from the owners of La Nopalera Mexican Restaurant, is slated to open in the closed Famous Amos space on University Boulevard West.
Jose Luis Ruiz, the restaurant’s manager, said he hopes to open it by mid-Feburary.
El Pacifico will serve Mexican seafood, tacos and Mexican plates and feature dishes from the Sinaloa region of Mexico, located along the Gulf of California and Pacific Ocean.
It also will serve beer, wine and liquor, including the margarita recipe from La Nopalera. There will be live music on the weekends, Ruiz said.
“We were trying to find a different menu concept for people around this area,” Ruiz said. “There’s no other Mexican seafood around here.”
Menu items include molcajete frio, a cold seafood platter; sopa pacifico; pasta pacifico; tostadas; camaron pulpo, shrimp and octopus; and torre de mariscos, a seafood tower Ruiz said is their “most famous dish.”
Ruiz said the interior of the restaurant is being planned and build-out will start soon.
He said Jose Valencia, who owns La Nopalera locations in Oakleaf, Fleming Island, Julington Creek and San Jose, will own El Pacifico.
Famous Amos closed at 3911 University Blvd. W. on Jan. 7 after nearly 40 years in operation.
Famous Amos co-owner Josephine Phelan said the restaurant was performing well, but leasing the property she and her husband John own was a better financial choice. She identified La Nopalera as the new tenant.