Checking In On La Urbana, Six Months In

Checking In On La Urbana, Six Months InPhoto: Nuala Sawyer/Hoodline
Nuala Sawyer
Published on March 27, 2014
It's been six months since we checked in with La Urbana, and it's high time for an update. 

Divisadero's latest big restaurant venture has been open since last September, and business is thriving. The combination of their vibrant decor, mezcal cocktails and high-end Mexican food seems to be doing the trick, and it's often hard to get in the door without a prior reservation.

So what's new? A lot, since we last checked in! We met with manager Regina Passalaqua, who gave us the rundown. 



The most obvious change was the opening of La Urbana's garage. Open for lunch and happy hour, the garage's wide doors open up to the neighborhood. Taco Tuesdays are the most popular garage day, with tacos at only $1.50 a pop and discounted drinks. Open Tuesday through Saturday, the garage is a great place to grab a bite and a beer and play a game of cards or dominos (both available to patrons). Zio Ziegler's mural which covered the exterior of the building during construction has been repurposed into a backdrop. And soon 4505 Meat's patio will move in next door, turning that section of Divisadero into an informal block party. 

La Urbana's mezcal collection has only grown, with 73 different kinds available on any night of the week. The cocktail list include things like the "Mezcal and Cacao", which contains rose water, lavender flowers, vanilla, orange peel & spices, served in a highball with Mina Real Mezcal and crushed ice.

The menu continues to evolve, to "keep things fresh" and honor the seasonal changes. As we were chatting a delivery came in for their popular trotters, used in their dish 
Torta De Cerdo, which is compiled of crispy pig trotters, egg, chipotle aioli, jalapeno, avocado and manchego.



FinallyLa Urbana is now serving brunch on the weekends. They opened up Sunday service in December, and added in Saturdays just last week. Brunch is served from 11am to 2:30pm, and offers up fancy fare with dishes like dungeness crab sopes. 

And now, the question on everyone's minds: what's up with the aforementioned rooftop patio? Sadly, Regina tells us it won't be opening anytime soon because the restaurant has just been too busy. The bustling success of La Urbana means that this addition has been pushed to next summer, so you'll have to look to the neighborhood's patios and ample sidewalk seating options to catch some rays in 2014.