The team behind MO's Universe Restaurant Group (Urban Mo's, Gossip Grill, Baja Betty's, InsideOut, Hillcrest Brewing) has taken over the Hillcrest spaces that last housed Tacos Libertad and BO-Beau and will open a female-forward bar & restaurant with a fast-casual sister salad eatery.
MO's Universe Restaurant Group partners Moe Girton & Stefan Chilcote have secured a lease on the University Avenue-sited units that last housed Cohn Restaurant Group's sister concepts BO-beau Kitchen + Caché & non-profit taqueria Libertad Tacos A La Brasa, which both shuttered last year during the pandemic. The expansive space that housed Bo-Beau will become Barrel & Board, offering a menu centered shareable platters ranging from appetizer boards, to cheese and meat boards, to entree boards. The area that was the Caché speakeasy portion of the restaurant will become The Board Room, a more drink-forward section. The space that was Taco Libertad will now be Salad To-Go-Go, a modern 'take-out' restaurant with fresh gourmet-style salads.
"This was a once in a lifetime opportunity that came our way (due to COVID) and we just couldn't pass it up," explained MO's Universe co-founder Moe Girton. "Now that we have the space, we needed a concept to compliment our other locations but to also focus on an intimate, culinary experience for our female-forward community. My wife and I have always loved board creations and flights. With owning Gossip Grill, I see the need for a space that our guests can go to when they don't want to be in the high energy bar scene that is the World Famous Women's Bar, Gossip Grill. Barrel & Board will offer a place that is still female forward, but also a space they can gather, have intimate conversations, share a board and a flight while creating memories."
Barrel & Board and Salad To-Go-Go are expected to open this June at 1023-1027 University Avenue in San Diego's Hillcrest community. For more information, visit mosuniverse.com.
