Ciopinot owners to open new restaurant in downtown SLO

Owners of downtown San Luis Obispo restaurant Ciopinot Seafood Grille plan to open a Mexican restaurant in The Creamery early next year.

The restaurant will be located in a new building behind Ciopinot; construction is slated to begin this fall by The Creamery owners.

Leonard and Wendy Cohen, who are involved in the process and will lease the space, plan to open their new restaurant in March or April.

The restaurant, likely to be named La Esquina, Spanish for “The Corner,” will be a high-quality, casual dining establishment, with all food cooked-to-order and a menu including fresh local red snapper, al pastor on a rotisserie and queso burgers — a hamburger wrapped in a quesadilla.

The restaurant will feature a full bar stocked with infused tequilas and will specialize in fresh margaritas. “I’m going to do the restaurant the way I like to eat, and I hope people like that,” said Leonard Cohen.

The Cohens, who declined to disclose their investment, hope the new restaurant will have the address 1051 B Nipomo St.

The restaurant will likely be between 1,800 and 2,000 square feet, and it may include an outdoor dining area. Leonard Cohen said that the close proximity to Ciopinot was pivotal so that the restaurants can help each other out.

The Cohens sold their other restaurant, Olde Port Inn, in December to David Whitestine, former chef and manager of the restaurant.

The Cohens hope to eventually open a third restaurant, a high-end steak house, located near Ciopinot as well.

This story was originally published September 24, 2015 at 3:19 PM with the headline "Ciopinot owners to open new restaurant in downtown SLO."