When a family injury pulled Luis Zendejas into the family business, he discovered a talent for leadership and a clear plan for his own restaurant. Now 24, he is opening Siete Azul, a coastal Mexican restaurant, in the former Chicago Diner space in Logan Square at the end of October.
A Training Period Inside the Family Restaurant
Four years ago, Zendejas's father broke his foot, and his son stepped in to run Las Islas Marias, the family restaurant in Wheeling, Illinois. Zendejas had worked there while growing up, but at 20 he found he enjoyed running the operation. When his father returned, Zendejas stayed on and said he intended to open his own restaurant one day.
What followed was an informal apprenticeship in which his father passed along his knowledge and experience, so that his son would be prepared when the time came. Zendejas now holds an equal partnership in the restaurant, which is 16 years old.
A Menu Shaped by Heritage and Family Recipes
Siete Azul draws on the places that shaped Zendejas: Santa Cruz, California, where he was born; Michoacán, Mexico, where his parents are from; and Chicago. He wants diners to see that Mexican food extends well beyond tacos, tortas and burritos, and that seafood can feel both upscale and comforting.
Starters include ceviche de camarón with shrimp, tomatoes, onions and cucumber in lime juice, and pan-seared langostinos served with red onion and salsa Nayarit. Both come with crispy tostadas. The empanada de camarón uses a blue corn masa wrapper developed with the purveyor Masienda, inspired by tortillas Zendejas ate during a visit to his aunt in Mexico. Larger plates include a steak frites riff with sweet potato fries, butter-sautéed scallops in poblano sauce, and a whole grilled red snapper with guajillo tomato sauce.
Drinks, Design and the Restaurant's Name
A liquor license is still pending, and Zendejas hopes to receive it by mid-November. A cocktail menu is already set, including a strawberry horchata martini and a hibiscus margarita. A wine list is still being finalized and is expected to include California wines alongside international selections, with beer also offered.
The 70-seat dining room, designed with Chicago's 555 Design within the restaurant's budget, uses light wood throughout, including a 10-seat bar. The name honors Las Islas Marias's popular siete mares, a seafood soup, and azul, Spanish for blue, nods to the ocean.