https://www.austinchronicle.com/daily/food/2024-06-24/first-look-la-seareinita/

First Look: La Seareinita

By Haris Qureshi, June 24, 2024, 11:00am, On the Range

La Seareinita, the new seafood restaurant from siblings Gabriela and Arturo Bucio and their hospitality company Gabriela’s Group, opened early last month in the former Whataburger at 2305 Burleson Road.

As its name suggests, La Seareinita is a miniature version of Seareinas, Gabriela Group’s restaurant in the northeast part of town near 290 and I-35. Although the Bucio family is originally from Michoacan, the menu in their Seareinas and Seareinitas concepts turned for inspiration to the West Coast Mexican state of Sinaloa, which is known for its fishing and agriculture.

We recently stopped by during their soft open and the vibe was similar to the signature traditional Mexican aesthetic mixed with neon signage that you find at Gabriela’s, although obviously a bit smaller than her other restaurant locations. The funky drinks along with seafood staples such as calamari, Louisiana-influenced boil bags, and ceviches de mariscos were served with complimentary shots of caldo, making it a no-brainer for pregaming in the area.

Since the restaurant pays homage to Sinaloa with several statues of narcosanto Jesus Malverde, we had to get the signature “El Chapo” drink (one of Sinaloa’s most notorious residents) and chase it down with a Pacifico, the popular Mexican beer first established in the Sinaloan city of Mazatlan by German settlers back in 1900.

Although they haven’t yet started the nightly mariachi and weekend DJ gigs that Gabriela (a one-time student at Reagan High who moonlights as DJ Gabby Got It) and Arturo are known for curating, there is no doubt that this new location is strategically placed to capitalize on the large Mexican community in 78741 and provide a new nightlife experience for folks who live south of Riverside. The owners promise to soon bring back the drive thru for micheladas and cocktails to go, so expect the new Seareinita to become one of the most popping bars on East Oltorf very soon.