News Summary
La Jefa, a new cultural café and restaurant in Philadelphia, will open this Friday, offering a unique dining experience that celebrates the culinary traditions of Guadalajara. La Jefa features a café for brunch and a bar-lounge, with a focus on agave cocktails and freshly made juices. The Suro family aims to honor their heritage while enhancing the city’s food scene, following their previous establishment, Tequilas, that recently reopened after renovations.
Philadelphia, PA – A new cultural café and restaurant called La Jefa is set to open on Friday, launched by David Suro, a well-known figure in high-end Mexican cuisine in the city. Positioned behind his longstanding establishment Tequilas, La Jefa will have its own entrance at 1605 Latimer St., offering a unique dining experience that celebrates the culinary traditions of Guadalajara.
The venue comprises two distinct spaces: a café that will serve full-service brunch and a bar-lounge that will open later. The café is scheduled to open daily at 8 a.m., where patrons can enjoy a range of coffees and pastries, including a special chocolate cookie stuffed with mole and lemon pie.
Brunch is available from Wednesday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., featuring dishes priced between $14 and $17 that showcase flavors like huevos verdes, enmoladas, and chilaquiles omelets. Looking ahead, dinner offerings anticipated to begin later in May will include aguachiles, ceviche blanco, and a squash quesadilla made with black and white masa.
La Jefa introduces a culinary concept branded as “Guadaladelphian“, merging influences from Guadalajara with a modern and casual touch. At the heart of La Jefa’s beverage selection are agave cocktails, natural wines, and specialty ferments, including house-made ginger beer mixed with basil-infused Siembra Azul tequila, in collaboration with James Beard award-winning bartender Danny Childs. The café’s juices will be freshly made using a centrifugal juicer, inspired by popular practices from the renowned New York bar Dante.
For coffee enthusiasts, La Jefa will source beans from Cafe Estelar, offering diverse options such as cold agave cappuccinos and Chemex pour-overs. The involvement of the Suro children—Dan, David Jr., and Elisa—will also play a crucial role in the day-to-day operations of the restaurant, each taking on specific responsibilities to contribute to the culinary endeavor.
The Suro family has enlisted a talented team from Guadalajara to assist in their mission, including chef Fabian Delgado Padilla, artist Isaac Padilla, and coffee expert Ricardo Cárdenas. La Jefa serves as a heartfelt tribute to their mother, Annette Cipolloni, who passed away from cancer in January 2021. The name “La Jefa” translates to “the boss” and reflects both their mother’s guidance and the notion of leadership within the restaurant industry.
Earlier this year, the Suro family faced adversity when a devastating fire at Tequilas in February forced significant renovations and improvements, resulting in a nine-month closure for repairs and insurance investigations. Following the extensive refurbishments and updates, Tequilas reopened in March 2023, providing a modern dining experience in a historic mansion built in 1864.
David Suro is also recognized for founding Siembra Spirits, a producer specializing in high-quality tequila and promoting artisanal agave spirits in Philadelphia. With La Jefa, the Suro family aims to continue their legacy by celebrating contemporary dishes inspired by the culinary arts of Suro’s hometown while differentiating La Jefa from the upscale atmosphere of Tequilas.
Through the launch of La Jefa, the Suro family seeks not only to honor their heritage but also to foster community support and evolution within Philadelphia’s culinary landscape.
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Additional Resources
- The Philadelphia Inquirer: La Jefa Mexican Restaurant
- Philly Eater: Tequilas Restaurant Openings
- Philadelphia Magazine: Tequilas Restaurant and Sustainable Agave Spirits
- The Philadelphia Inquirer: Tequilas Philadelphia Restaurant
- VinePair: Next Wave David Suro
- Wikipedia: Mexican Cuisine
- Google Search: David Suro
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Tequila
- Google News: Philadelphia Restaurants
- Google Scholar: Mexican Cuisine
Author: STAFF HERE PHILADELPHIA WRITER
PHILADELPHIA STAFF WRITER The PHILADELPHIA STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREPhiladelphia.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Mummers Parade, Philadelphia Flower Show, and Thanksgiving Day Parade. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce and United Way of Greater Philadelphia, plus leading businesses in telecommunications, food services, and healthcare that power the local economy such as Comcast, Aramark, and Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. As part of the broader HERE network, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Pennsylvania's dynamic landscape.
