Date: Wednesday, 06 June 2018
The space that used to house Arcos, a popular Mexican restaurant in Upper Fells Point, will soon reopen as an eatery serving Eritrean food.
Brothers Solomon and Yonathan Weldekirstos are hoping to open Dahlak Restaurant early next week at 129 South Broadway, Solomon Weldekirstos said Monday. If all goes well with construction and a liquor license hearing scheduled for Thursday, the plan is to host a soft opening on June 11.
The brothers, who are from Asmara, the Eritrean capital, named their new restaurant after the Dahlak Archipelago, a group of islands in the Red Sea.
They plan to serve Eritrean dishes — which share many similarities with Ethiopian food — as well as some Mediterranean options, burgers and steaks. The approximately 2,000-square-foot restaurant will be able to seat about 145 people indoors and in a courtyard with an entrance from Pratt Street.
Dahlak will also offer coffee and free WiFi, plus a bar menu if it's granted a liquor license. The space will be available to be rented out for events, Solomon Weldekirstos said.
Renovations were in progress Monday as the restaurant approaches an opening date. The brothers hope to get up and running as soon as possible to maximize use of the outdoor courtyard while the weather is warm.
"We are rushing to open it," Solomon Weldekirstos said. "This has a lot of potential."
He said updates to the property cost about $200,000. Property records show Solomon Weldekirstos bought the 3,960-square-foot building, which also holds apartments on the upper floors, via Dahlak Partners LLC for $330,000 in September 2016. Yonathan Weldekirstos owns the restaurant business through Arcos LLC.
Arcos closed in 2014 and hit the auction block in 2015.
