Acú Bistro Bar is the latest restaurant to plant its flag in the Dominion area. Down the way from Johnny Hernandez's La Gloria Dominion, Acú is adding "pan-Mediterranean" fare to the neighborhood.
Opened by Jeff Treviño and chef Karlo Orduña, the restaurant specializes in scratch-made Mediterranean food centered around a wood-fired oven. Specialties include paella, but the rest of the menu features pizzas, pastas and tapas-style plates. Entrees start at $25 for dinner. Lunch specials cap off at $15 and include stuffed pitas, pastas and salads.
Orduña, who is bringing 20-plus years of catering experience, is using recipes from his grandmother Acú, a native of Bethlehem so there is a small focus on Arab and Israeli fare.
"She was a consummate host," said Treviño, "She loved having people over to cook big meals and enjoy life."
The owners hope to extend that sentiment to the restaurant's atmosphere, which they designed to feel welcoming and homey as if "you're coming over to your friend's house."
Happy hour at Acú will run from 3 to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday with $2-off wine by the glass, specialty cocktails, wells, pizzas and appetizers.
