Cantina Jack’s, a new Mexican restaurant from the restaurateurs behind Jack’s Restaurant and Bar, opened its doors last week in Pleasant Hill.
The three brothers, Chris, John and Dave Marcovici, are dubbed the “Tres Griegos” in the restaurant’s tagline because of their Greek heritage. The East Bay natives opened their first Jack’s in Pleasant Hill 14 years ago — there are locations now in San Jose, San Bruno, San Mateo and Newark, as well. So when they were given a chance to lease the space formerly occupied by Sweet Tomatoes, just a block from the original Jack’s, they took the leap, says Chris Marcovici. The restaurant is in the same building as Morgan Territory Brewing.
“We knew downtown (Pleasant Hill) needed a nice comfortable sit-down Mexican restaurant,” he says.
The brothers have traveled in Mexico and are huge fans of Mexican food, Chris says. For this project, they partnered with a pro, chef Richard Frausto, formerly of Thomas Keller’s La Calenda restaurant in Yountville, to develop the menu. But the brothers put their own Greek spin on a few menu items, including the Greek tacos ($12 for two) filled with roasted lamb, feta, lemon-oregano vinaigrette, pico de gallo and cilantro, and a grilled octopus small plate ($16), served with lemon-oregano vinaigrette and charred jalapeño.
The menu includes everything from ceviche ($16) to quesabirria tacos ($14), pollo al carbon ($20) with salsa morita, and a grilled rib-eye steak ($37). The beverage list includes wine, beer and cocktails such as a tequila-spiked Desert Flower ($13), made with prickly pear puree, and the Que Bonita ($14), which combines vanilla-infused vodka, passionfruit puree, St-Germain elderflower liqueur and Prosecco.
Details: Opens daily at 11 a.m. at 40C Crescent Drive in Pleasant Hill; cantinajacks.com.
