Look for a new Southeastern Mexican-inspired eatery to open in South St. Louis later this summer from chef Alex Henry of City Foundry STL’s Sureste.
El Molino del Sureste will be Henry’s first brick-and-mortar location and his second concept under the Sureste group. The restaurant, located in the South Hampton neighborhood (5005 S. Kingshighway Blvd.), will also feature a retail counter, in partnership with Henry’s brother and business partner, Jeff Henry, who will assume duties as El Molino’s beverage director and GM.
The location is designed to function as three separate spaces: By day, it will operate as a traditional “molino,” a mill where corn is prepared and ground into masa and made available for purchase as tortillas and tostadas. In the evening, the restaurant will have two different full-service options, a dining room with large-format shareables inspired by Henry’s abuelita’s cooking, as well as a cocktail lounge and bar offering more modern Yucatan Peninsula-inspired small plates and cocktails.
The Henry brothers, born in the Yucatán capital of Mérida, moved to the U.S. as children. Alex Henry spent his summers visiting Mexico and learning how to cook with his mother and grandmother. He previously worked at acclaimed local eateries, including Cleveland-Heath, Vicia and Nixta. He opened Sureste Mexican Kitchen at City Foundry last year.
Diners can expect the same bold flavors and spices as Sureste, with an increased commitment to heirloom varieties of corn from local farmers, according to Henry. The bar program under Jeff Henry will reflect traditional Yucatan flavors with agave and sugarcane spirits.
El Molino del Sureste is expected to open in late summer 2023.
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