Just a week into opening their first Long Beach location, Zarape is already drawing return customers. Not because it’s “settled,” necessarily—Stefano Mozher will be the first to tell you that opening week is a whirlwind of details, missing pieces, and the inevitable reality checks no amount of training can prepare you for.
“Week one, here we are rocking,” Mozher says. “It’s always the small little pieces: What’s missing? We need to fix this. We need to fix that… Reality hits.”
Stefano’s honesty is refreshing—and needed for both customers and staff alike. In today’s climate, impression is everything, with one-star Yelp! reviews coming from folks who were even offered a comped bill if a mistake was made. Despite their whether they’re warranted or not, they exist. And that means hospitality needs to be not just present but immediate. And Zarape isn’t here to be another casual Mexican spot. Stefano is proudly adamant that they are here to challenge how people think about Mexican food and mid-range restaurant hospitality—and what they’re willing to value.
In Belmont Shore, it is nestled between the upper-scale, wonderful Viaje and the lower, it’s-seen-better-times Super Mex. In other words: that perfect middle. And in a neighborhood built on foot traffic and loyal locals, Zarape’s timing may be as strategic as it is personal…