August 17, 2020 by Carol Britton Meyer (photos by Christen Poole for @Seabird_coffee Instagram)
The long-awaited opening of Locales Tacos y Tequila in the vacant Crow's Landing restaurant at 6 Crow Point Lane could be just around the corner.
The family-friendly restaurant with a fun atmosphere -- which will feature Mexican- as well as Baja-style tacos, burritos, salads, appetizers, quesadillas, churros (fried dough topped with cinnamon sugar), and a "tremendous" tequila bar, owner Brian McLaughlin told the Hingham Anchor -- could open as early as late September or early October, starting off with takeout and delivery service. McLaughlin is also the founder of the popular Seabird Coffee & Co. in Cohasset.
"Obtaining the necessary town approvals took longer than expected, and it's been a slow process, but we are moving forward and are super-excited about opening a new restaurant in Hingham," McLaughlin said.
Due to COVID-19 restrictions and surrounding uncertainties, the focus will be on offering takeout and delivery at first, with the ultimate goal of offering indoor dining "when everyone feels comfortable and safe about it -- including our customers and our staff. For now, we're taking a cautious approach," McLaughlin said. The restaurant may also offer outdoor dining, contingent on town approval.
"The idea behind our takeout and delivery service is to help our customers bring the restaurant experience home with them when they can't actually be inside," he said. "We're going to offer a Mexican fiesta in a box to help them [get into the party spirit] right in their own homes."
Work on the interior of the building is ongoing, and despite some delays, McLaughlin is pleased with the progress. He also expressed appreciation for building owners Rich and Kurt Cawley, who he said "have been incredible to work with throughout this whole pandemic. They've been partnering with us to help us get this restaurant going in the right way," McLaughlin said. "The future opening of Locales Tacos y Tequila gives us all one more thing to look forward to."
When indoor dining becomes an option, parents will be encouraged to bring their children to the restaurant. "As a parent of three kids myself, having children also feel comfortable is the most important thing," McLaughlin said.
In the meantime he has been testing out taco recipes in his kitchen and getting the other recipes in line. When he lived on the West Coast, McLaughlin was general manager and partner in an award-winning San Francisco taco eatery. Now he's bringing a similar atmosphere and flavor to Hingham, where he and his family lived when they first arrived on the South Shore several years ago. They are now Scituate residents.
Whether enjoying a Locales Tacos meal in their own home, or eventually inside the restaurant, customers will enjoy delicious food that incorporates the highest-quality, locally-sourced ingredients possible.
"I can't wait until we open!" McLaughlin said.