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Estaño, a Spanish Basque Country-themed pixtos bar from musician Bruce McDaniel and Arabella Casa Di Pasta restaurant owner Mowgli Pierlas, just opened on St. Claude Avenue, reports Todd Price.
The day at Estaño begins with light breakfast/brunch including things like Spanish staple pan con tomate and a truffled egg toast. The truffled egg toast has been so popular that a lot of the orders are from people who have already had it and are back for more, Pierlas told Eater NOLA.
Midday brings a selection of pixtos (similar to tapas) landing on the bar, like skewers of anchovies, Spanish tortilla, and croquetas. Right now, Estaño is making the croquetas with serrano ham and a variety of cheeses. Pierlas says a vegetarian mushroom version is in the works. For around $5, diners can indulge in a couple.
In the Basque area of Spain, pixtos are typically placed on the bar for people to serve themselves. At Estaño, diners won’t serve themselves, but the food will be put out on the bar in Basque fashion. The Basque word pixto comes from pinchar, a Spanish word meaning “to pinch” because the food items were originally pinched together by skewers to make serving oneself easier.
The restaurant is also dishing out conservas (high quality canned seafood) imported from Spain, and fresh bread.
The liquor license is still pending (expect wine and dry cider soon) and a full menu won’t go into effect until next week.
Estaño isn’t the only new wine bar in the Marigny and Bywater area. In April, three MoPho alums announced plans to open Saint Germain, a Paris-themed wine bar with a courtyard, on 3054 St. Claude Ave — just a mile down St. Claude from Estaño. Plus, it seems like wine bars are the craze nationwide.
Opening hours are Tuesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. with plans to add evening hours soon. Estaño is closed on Sundays and Mondays.
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