The trio who have opened both an Italian restaurant and a massive 300-seat Mexican seafood restaurant in San Diego’s Old Town over the past four years are back for thirds.
Next week, Pietro Busalacchi, his dad Sal Busalacchi, and their longtime friend Gustavo Rios — who together make up the Vibrant Project restaurant company —will open Tako, an intimate sushi, crudo and cocktail bar, inside their El Sueño Restaurant & Bar on Juan Street in Old Town. The company also owns nearby Trattoria Don Pietro.
Tako will fuse Japanese and Mexican cuisines under the leadership of executive chef Eric Stean, who was the opening crudo chef at El Sueño and has also worked locally at Hane Sushi and Barbusa Italian restaurant.
The menu at Tako will feature sushi, handrolls, nigiri and sashimi dishes, as well as Mexican-style dishes like crispy plantains, tuna tiradito and a daily baked fish special. Some of the sushi rolls, including the Caballero, Aguachile and Sueno varieties, feature Mexican ingredients like salsa verde, al pastor-style tuna and serrano and jalapeño peppers.
Scheduled for a soft opening on Sept. 20, Tako is located on the upstairs floor of the building that houses El Sueño. The 1,100-square-foot Tako has a 12-seat bar and a jungle-themed speakeasy design by Pietro Busalacchi. It’s located at 2836 Juan St., San Diego.
For more than 40 years, Sal Busalacchi has been in the Italian restaurant business in San Diego. In 2020, Sal, Pietro and Rios partnered up as the Vibrant Project. Their company has been successful in bringing unique food options to Old Town, which has historically been almost exclusively served by Mexican restaurants.
When they opened their first restaurant, Trattoria Don Pietro, in August 2020 it faced two big hurdles. Its Italian menu challenged Old Town’s culinary status quo and the COVID-19 pandemic made navigating the ever-changing business landscape difficult. But they persevered and the elaborately decorated restaurant became a success, particularly as a date-night destination.
In June 2023, they opened El Sueño in the former La Piñata restaurant building on Juan Street. The property was revamped to resemble an elegant older hacienda overgrown with jungle vines and flowers from the rain forest. It serves a Mexican seafood-forward menu.
For Tako menu and reservations, visit takosd.com.
