a'Verde Cocina + Tequila Library
Permanently Closed
Modern Mexican cuisine with Japanese influences and a large tequila selection
Modern Mexican cuisine with Japanese influences and a large tequila selection
"Dining is an experience at Top Chef alum Katsuji Tanabe’s Mexico City-inspired restaurant with LM Restaurants. Performances include a tequila cocktail on fire or a spray bottle of orange juice for a mimosa. Follow up your cocktail with Tanabe’s grandmother’s cornbread recipe, topped with honey truffle butter, and don’t miss the octopus and chorizo tacos." - Sarah Day Owen Wiskirchen
"The Mexican-meets-Japanese restaurant in Cary, led by former Top Chef contestant Katsuji Tanabe, debuted a polarizing mayonnaise-forward cocktail on Instagram. Inspired by the viral Velveeta mac-and-cheese martini, Tanabe chose Duke’s mayonnaise as the signature ingredient to reflect his Southern base; the drink blends 2 ounces mezcal, 1/2 ounce pineapple juice, 1/2 ounce agave syrup, 1/2 ounce Gran Gala orange liqueur, one teaspoon Duke’s mayo, 1/2 ounce egg whites, 1/2 ounce lime juice, a dash of bitters, and is finished with a chili rim. He encouraged followers to try it at home, and the post drew a split reaction—half intrigued by the frothy creation and half put off by a mayo martini—yet the cocktail could become a rotating special at the restaurant." - Erin Perkins
"Opened at 5 p.m. on Friday, March 18, 2022, this Cary restaurant from Top Chef alum Katsuji Tanabe channels his Mexico City upbringing and Mexican-Japanese heritage to present Mexican cooking informed by Japanese pantry staples — soy sauce, fish sauce and togarashi — rather than as a deliberate fusion. The menu highlights octopus tacos, cochinita pibil and vegetable-forward plates using local produce from okra to butternut squash. Interiors lean heavily into green (walls, plants and table veladoras) and were designed by the restaurant group to reflect the bold menu, with reclaimed mirrors, hanging baskets, aged kitchen boards and a rustic, homey atmosphere; a tequila room features a modern Frida Kahlo mural by artist Arianne Hemlein and shelves lined with numerous bottles." - Erin Perkins
"Set to open at 2300 Walnut Street in Cary before spring 2022, A'Verde Cocina and Tequila Library will showcase modern Mexican cooking through the lens of Tanabe's Mexican-Japanese upbringing; he says he's not trying to make a fusion but will use Japanese techniques and ingredients—soy sauce, fish sauce, togarashi—to build layers of umami balanced with Mexican limes, chiles, and spices. Menu highlights include corn esquites with chilies, nori, sesame seeds, and orange peel, octopus tacos, enchiladas, and vegetable-forward plates using local okra and butternut squash; Tanabe expects 90% of orders to be inspired by his father, mother, and grandmother, and predicts his grandmother's very sweet, buttery, cheesy cornbread with fresh corn will be a runaway hit. The 5,500-square-foot, 250–300-seat space will also feature a massive tequila selection that the team believes may be the largest in the Triangle or even the state." - Erin Perkins
"Pulling from his upbringing in Mexico City, Mexico, chef Katsuji Tanabe brings his knowledge of the country’s cuisine to Cary, North Carolina. He wants to create a fun and comfortable space to share his modern-meets-tradition cuisine. The restaurant will also boast one of the largest tequila collections in the region." - Erin Perkins
