A new restaurant that has been posting tantalizing messages on Facebook since late April will open its doors this month.
 
El Mariscal, promising the tastes of Nayarit-style Mexican seafood, will occupy the space that formerly housed Churrasco at 1319 Military Cutoff Road in Landfall Center. The social media posts tout the restaurant’s fresh oysters, seafood soup and other seaside favorites from Nayarit, a small state on Mexico’s western coast. Blessed with fertile soil and a moderate climate, the area is known for its agricultural products and its abundant seafood.
 
“From its seas come shark, dog fish, sea bass, sierra, shrimp and oysters, which explains why seafood takes center stage in Nayarit’s gastronomy,” states the website Mex Connect.
 
"We are excited and proud of being the first seafood Mexican restaurant in Wilmington,” the owners stated in a blog post. “El Mariscal brings the famous flavors of Nayarit food, and other delicious dishes from the Mexican Costa including octopus, snapper, shrimp, and oysters to pair with refreshing and creative cocktails from cantaritos to micheladas and of course margaritas. The cool and refreshing ambiance sets the mood for the freshest seafood with Mexican roots. The flavors are unique to the coasts of Mexico, offered nowhere else in this area. For this particular concept we invited one of the best Mexican seafood chefs on the east coast, we are happy to have chef Marcelo on the team, thanks to his large experience.”
 
El Mariscal is the newest culinary venture from the Ibarra family, nearly 30-year veterans of the local restaurant scene. In addition to the family’s El Cerro Grande local chain, they own and operate El Arriero Taquerias as well as Zócalo Street Food and Tequila at Barclay Pointe.
 
In addition to a vast number of seafood dishes, El Mariscal will have a full bar, with special cocktails designed to accompany its cuisine, according to the website.