“We’re hoping to bring energy to this area that people can experience without having to drive to Chicago,” Becky Cerda, El Vallarta general manager, said of the high-end bar, seafood restaurant, and live music venue coming to 7140 Harrison Ave.

That new concept pops in the fusion dishes dotting El Vallarta’s 12-page menu. Along with Mexican seafood standards – whole snapper, prawns, octopus, mussels, lobster tail – there are 10 choices of Mexican sushi (think peppery spices instead of wasabi). And in dishes like the Chicken Shrimp Diablo, both an Alfredo sauce and a house specialty Nayarit red sauce caress fettuccini. Ribeye and New York strip steaks will also come with the house red sauce.