advertisement

Mexican, sushi to feed Water Street guests in Naperville

Shoppers and Riverwalk visitors hungry for Mexican food or sushi will have new options in the Water Street District when it opens by fall 2015 in downtown Naperville.

Bien Trucha, a small-plate Mexican restaurant based in Geneva, and Blue Sushi Sake Grill, based in Omaha, Neb., are two of the handful of restaurants to be built as part of the mixed-use district coming to Water Street south of the DuPage River.

The restaurants join Hotel Indigo as the first elements of the development to be announced by The Marquette Companies, a Naperville-based firm that is building a hotel, restaurants, shops, offices, Riverwalk enhancements and a parking garage along Water Street between Main and Webster streets.

Rodrigo Cano of Bien Trucha said his restaurant’s Geneva location, which opened six years ago, offers homemade salsas, guacamoles, tacos, casuelitas and a variety of margaritas. Coming to Naperville is part of an expansion plan that also may include other cities.

“We believe there aren’t that many other Mexican restaurants in downtown that are doing what we’re doing,” Cano said Friday. “It’ll be great for the city.”

Bien Trucha’s Naperville location will be built on the south side of Water Street at Webster, while Blue Sushi Sake Grill will be along the north side of Water Street facing a plaza with a fountain, the Riverwalk and the river itself.

A broad staircase, which developers say will be “patterned after the Spanish steps in Rome,” will lead from the plaza down to the Riverwalk.

Blue Sushi Sake Grill, which has locations in Denver and Fort Worth, has been looking to expand to the Chicago area for several years, with Flagship Restaurant Group officials touring 20 locations until choosing Naperville.

“The Naperville community impressed us,” Megan Longo, a spokeswoman for Flagship Restaurant Group, said in a written statement. “Naperville’s affluent, educated and well-traveled demographic is the perfect audience for our concept.”

The restaurant offers a tapas-style menu of sushi, appetizers, entrees, desserts and a lounge with cold sake and craft cocktails.

The Marquette Companies plans to break ground on the Water Street District early next year.

Naperville council backs new Water Street Project

Naperville approves $7.5 million in Water Street incentives

Naperville’s Water Street construction to begin by ’14

Water Street District to include Hotel Indigo

Naperville planning expansion of Chicago Avenue parking deck

Bien Trucha, a Mexican restaurant that opened about six years ago in Geneva, plans to expand to Naperville and join the Water Street District in 2015. Daily Herald file photo
Homemade guacamoles, salsa, tacos and casuelitas are expected to be on the menu when Bien Trucha, a small-plate Mexican restaurant in Geneva, opens a new location in fall 2015 at the Water Street District in downtown Naperville. Daily Herald file photo
Article Comments
Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked. If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.