Big City to Become 'Patron’s Mexican Kitchen & Watering Hole'

Sunset Grill & Tap owner Marc Kadish plans to up the Mexican quotient at his Allston hangout.

Patron's will have a bigger Mexican focus than Sunset Cantina. (Photo courtesy of Marc Kadish)

Big City, the pool-hall sibling to Sunset Grill & Tap and Sunset Cantina in Allston, will transition into a more defined Mexican concept called Patron’s Mexican Kitchen & Watering Hole, owner Marc Kadish told me recently.

The switch will make Patron’s the most focused Mexican spot out of Kadish’s three concepts, which are all known for their beers, margaritas, and Mexican-American fare like cheesy platters of nachos and pulled pork quesadillas.

While that will all remain in place at Patron’s (though the nachos will become build-your-own with several types of guacamole, salsa, and even mole to choose from as toppers; margaritas will have a build-your-0wn format as well), there will also be what Kadish refers to as “Mexican rustic cooking,” with hearty dishes like stewed ribs with plantains, beans, and chipotle tomato sauce. It won’t be strictly Mexican, though, thanks to Cajun, southern, and Latin influences as well.

The space is already experiencing some changes; Kadish told me that he’s installed a new kitchen in Big City, which formerly had to share kitchen space with Sunset Grill next door, in order to decrease the amount of time the food takes to travel from the stove to the table. Only four of the 14 pool tables remain, leaving more room for dining tables and two new brick fireplaces. The bar has been rebuilt as well, and will boast a large mezcal list and offer fun snacks like chipotle-spiced popcorn.

Kadish says that he’s shooting to roll out the new menu (and finalize the transition from Big City to Patron’s) by April, but it could even be sooner.

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