Lolita, the former BYOB and veritable heart of Midtown Village’s bustling 13th Street restaurant and retail corridor, reopens on Friday, April 25 after going dark for nearly six months. The modern Mexican restaurant, which the dynamic duo of Marcie Turney and Valerie Safran originally opened 10 years ago, returns with a fresh new look, and for the first time in its existence, a liquor license and fully-stocked bar.

Over the course of Lolita’s extended hiatus, Turney and Safran completely overhauled the space, refreshing the interior’s look and feel with charcoal-colored painted brick walls, pendant lighting, succulents planted in vintage Mexican beer cans, and colorful handmade tiles. Surely the piece de resistance is the relocated kitchen, which is now fully open and on display behind a newly built, 30-foot concrete bar and chef’s counter.

The bar, which has 16 seats, is equipped with eight taps — with a mix of beers from Mexico and a couple of craft drafts — a list of 14 cool cocktails, plus an impressive collection of tequilas and mezcals. Cocktails include Margaritas that range from classic to strawberry Thai basil, as well as several “del jardin” variations that incorporate fresh, seasonal produce like cucumbers, beets and kale. There’s also a well thought out wine list and a handful of non-alcoholic bebidas. Check the full drink list here.

As far as food goes, the new and improved Lolita’s focus is on drink-friendly street food. Drawing inspiration from research trips to Mexico, Turney and Safran have developed a menu that puts forth a host of tasty plates including tacos wrought with made-to-order tortillas courtesy of the kitchen’s hand-cranked press, ceviches and other traditional dishes found at taquerias throughout the country. The kitchen is equipped with a vertical rotating spit, or trompo, that slowly cooks stacked layers of meat, marinating each layer of thinly sliced meat as it turns to produce an extremely savory flavors. Each week the kitchen staff will feature a different riff on the world’s most popular street foods, including Achiote Spiced Pork Shoulder, Belly and Cheeks and Korean Spiced Skirt Steak with Ssamjang and Perilla.

Prices range from $8 to $12 for drinks, and $4 to $24 for food. Lolita will serve dinner nightly from 5 PM until Midnight and offer late night specials. Plans are afoot to introduce lunch service in the weeks ahead.