Cielo Rojo will relocate to a larger location to accommodate an expansion of the restaurant, according to a report from Washington City Paper.
WCP’s Nevin Martell reports that the restaurant is moving to the former Healey Surgeons location at 7211 Carroll Ave., adjacent to the Takoma Park fire station. “With the help of DesignCase—which oversaw the design of Maydan and Immigrant Food—the new location will feature 120 seats inside and another 30 seats on the patio, an open kitchen, 16-seat bar, and private dining room for 20-30 diners,” Martell said in the report.
The existing Cielo Rojo location at 7056 Carroll Ave. will be transformed into San Pancho Burritos, a fast-casual restaurant serving Mission-style burritos, which became popular during the 1960s in the Mission District of San Francisco. San Pancho is projected to open in the fall.
“We wanted to stay in Takoma Park because the people here are very loyal,” co-owner Carolina McCandless said to WCP. “They have been so good to us, especially during the pandemic.”
Cielo Rojo opened in early 2019 at 7056 Carroll Ave. in Takoma Park. The “fine-casual” Mexican restaurant has been praised multiple times by food critics, namely for its pozole soup, tacos, and outdoor dining. WCP’s food editor Laura Hayes praised the restaurant last December, naming its Quesa Birria one of the “13 Best Under $35 Dishes D.C. Area Restaurants Served in 2021”.
Photo: Cielo Rojo/Facebook