Argentinian-inspired PUMA will organize a smooth opening during movement

Music fans attending Movement this weekend and looking for a bite to eat are in for a treat as new Argentinian restaurant PUMA Detroit plans to open its doors for a soft opening on Friday.

PUMA — located in Detroit’s Core City neighborhood — is the second local restaurant launched by chef Javier Bardauil, whose first restaurant, Barda, was a James Beard Awards finalist for Best New Restaurant in America in 2022.

The man behind the menu, Bardauil, joined The Subway Thursday to learn more about the new restaurant, its inspiration and what guests should expect this weekend.

Bardauil said he intentionally timed PUMA’s soft opening to coincide with Movement.

“One of the things that brings entertainment, in my opinion, is music, one of the pillars for me. PUMA will be very, very music-oriented,” he said. “We’re going to have live DJ shows every weekend. And that’s why I asked myself if I’m not open to the Movement, when? I mean, it was the right time for me to show what PUMA has to bring to the city. »

Bardauil says entertainment planned for this weekend includes musical sets from Roni Amitai, Scott Grooves, Sheefy McFly and Julio De’Angelo. Alongside its music offering, PUMA will offer Argentinian-inspired dishes cooked over a fire to bring “another layer of flavor other than the passion that you can show through the dish,” Bardauil said.

This style of cooking is similar to that of the Barda restaurant in Bardauil, however, the two restaurants will accommodate very different atmospheres, he said.

“PUMA is more street food, more chaotic, more dynamic in that sense with live music. Noisier, probably more geared towards young people.

PUMA will open its doors at 5 p.m. from Friday to Sunday. The restaurant will close at 10 p.m., but the bar will remain open until 2 a.m. Customers will be able to enjoy DJ sets all evening.

Use the media player above to hear Bardauil’s full interview.

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