Chef Roberto Santibañez To Open Mexican Restaurant at The Wharf

Chef Roberto Santibañez, owner of the Fonda restaurants in New York City, is opening a huge restaurant at The Wharf development called Mi Vida.

Opening in early November, the 9,500-square-foot space will sit on the water’s edge next to the new 6,000-person capacity music venue The Anthem.

Santibañez’s title on the project is culinary director, and the Mexico City native will create a street food-focused menu packed with chicken, beef, and pork.

The design from KNEAD Hospitality + Design will be sleek and modern, and expect an interpretation of Mexico’s tree of life—an intricate clay sculpture telling Biblical or historic stories. “Mi Vida,” which translates to “my life,” is also a term of endearment used to refer to a loved one.

The 400-seat space will have multiple private dining rooms and waterfront patio seating.

It’ll join another Mexican eatery already present (Cantina Marina) as well previously-announced projects as Del Mar, a Spanish seafood restaurant from Fabio Trabocchi, and Requin, Jennifer Carroll's Mediterranean restaurant she's opening with Mike Isabella, Nick Stefanelli’s multi-level Italian food hall, and Cathal Armstrong’s Asian restaurant Kaliwa.

The restaurant-heavy site will also include bites from Todd Thrasher, Jamie Leeds, the Trabocchis, K.N. Vinod and Surfy Rahman, and more.