From Mexican to Mediterranean and now back. Caló Kitchen + Tequila is coming later this year to Carousel Court on level 1 at South Coast Plaza. It’s taking over  the space that was formerly The Hall Global Eatery and Z’Tejas before that.

It’s a new location of a boutique restaurant chain founded by Clemente Heredia to serve a menu of Mexican classics and contemporary favorites as well as margaritas and sipping tequilas. There are already locations in Laguna Niguel and El Segundo; this  new one will likely open in December, said Heredia, who owns the restaurant with his wife Karen and their business partner John Parlet.

“I grew up in the business. My grandma had a restaurant in  Sacramento,” said Heredia. That one, Carmelita’s, is still run by his father. But the son has his own vision. “I think Caló is a little more sophisticated, but it’s not stuffy,” Heredia said.

Many recipes have been handed down from Clemente’s grandparents, such as the carnitas. The menu will be similar to its sister locations where signature dishes include shrimp and crab enchiladas and halibut tacos; most dinner entrees are $16-$30. Other dishes, such as steak and seafood items, may be added as the restaurant gets customer feedback at the new location.

There are lots of appetizer choices such as guacamole, nachos, taquitos and quesadillas. Build-your-own combo plate choices include chile rellenos, tacos, enchiladas and tamales with side dishes of salad, Mexican corn or rice and beans.

Margaritas are made with lime juice freshly squeezed each day and a housemade agave sweetener. They include Cadillac, spicy, blackberry and other versions. There’s a list of sipping tequilas that’s carefully chosen to emphasize old school techniques.

“We still carry other brands of course, but we tend to really favor the ones that still carry on the tradition of using a stone wheel, and they’ve been in the family for a long time,” Heredia said. “Where things are done by hand, literally, from start to finish.”

The name Caló refers to what’s commonly known as the pachuco or zoot suit culture of the ’30s and ’40s that originated with the Gitana (Spanish Romani) dialect. It contains arcane language inherited from the time of Miguel Cervantes’ “Don Quixote,” that was retained from the conquistador era in isolated pockets of the Southwestern U.S.

The restaurant’s vibe however isn’t stuck in any historical period. On the contrary, the look and feel is completely contemporary, says Christine van Rooy, managing principal of VanRooy Design, which has started a complete renovation of the space. “We’ve been doing restaurants for 20 years. We do a lot of hotels in Las Vegas. We’re doing a lot of stuff in Hawaii right now, too,” van Rooy said.

“For us, it was looking at the space as what’s the future of restaurant design? You know, let’s get rid of the black ceilings, let’s get rid of the heaviness. Let’s maintain the sexy vibe.”  Caló’s look will be fresh with neutral colors of the desert, in textured materials such as light wood tables and white flagstone, with green and brass accents.

As in the Laguna Niguel location, there will be splashes of wallpaper with leafy greenery in the shapes of banana leaves. There will be contemporary crystal chandeliers and custom embossed plaster panels as well as otomi embroidery in monochromatic colors.

The 8,000-square foot restaurant will have 200 seats total,. The dining space will be almost evenly split between the interior and patio with big roll-up doors creating an indoor/outdoor feel.

Two special rooms, a tequila room and a mezcal room, have been created, each seats 12 and has its own vibe.

“Essentially it’s our way of serving families and groups,” said Heredia. “We really wanted to create a place where you feel like you’re literally in your own space.”

In addition to the main bar, which seats 30, there will be a private tequila bar on the patio that seats 10 with its own bartender. Those coveted seats will be first come, first served.

The intent is to make the whole experience feel like an exotic retreat with comforting fare that will be familiar to those who love south of the border cuisine.

“My grandparents set a new standard for the family and I simply want to do the same,” says Heredia. “Our only goal is to make this your favorite Mexican restaurant.”

Find it: 3333 Bristol St., Costa Mesa, calokitchen.com.

Opens: Slated to open in December.

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