Reddit users had some questions about Mad Mex Shadyside’s new coat of paint and “Sol” branding. Now, they’ve been answered. The Shadyside Mad Mex location is now Mad Mex Sol, part test kitchen, part regular Mad Mex, according to a press release issued today.
The Shadyside Location of Mad Mex Turns Into a Test Kitchen for Mad Mex Sol
Mad Mex opened in 1993 as the first restaurant in what would become the big Burrito Restaurant Group, which now includes Alta Via, Alta Via Pizzeria, Casbah, Kaya, Eleven, Soba and Umi.
“Our ‘Funky Fresh Cal-Mex’ approach has always borrowed freely from different flavors and influences,” said Mad Mex Founder Tom Baron in today’s release. “Sol simply gives that side of Mad Mex more room to show up.”
In addition to a redesigned regular menu (now back in its book form), Mad Mex Sol will introduce a small number of “Made in the Shade” dishes for guests to try and provide feedback on via an online poll. Well-received dishes could earn a permanent spot as a Shadyside “Mexclusive” or make their way to other Mad Mex locations; less popular items will fade back into obscurity.
What Makes Mad Mex Sol in Shadyside Special
The Shadyside location is currently the only Mad Mex location with its own executive chef, making it ideally suited to serve as the chain’s flagship test kitchen. The addition of Chef Marty Sons — formerly of big Burrito sister restaurant, Kaya — has “already created more room for new ideas in the kitchen,” according to the release.
“We’ve learned a lot in 33 years,” said Mad Mex Food and Beverage Director (and Gobblerito inventor) Matt Glick in the release. “One of those things is that sometimes you need a focus group bigger than one. Marty and the team are always experimenting with new dishes and creating unexpected combinations.”
For longtime Mad Mex guests, the restaurant they know and love isn’t getting replaced, according to Baron.
“We have people who’ve been coming to Mad Mex for decades, and that’s something we’re incredibly proud of,” Baron said. “We also have people discovering us for the first time. Sol isn’t about choosing between them. It’s about creating a Shadyside restaurant where both groups feel welcome.”
Visit Mad Mex’s Instagram and TikTok pages for more information on Mad Mex Sol and its new “Made in the Shade” menu.
Find out what else is happening in the city’s culinary scene with our Pittsburgh Restaurant Guide.
About the Author
Amanda Reed has written for Popular Science, Pittsburgh Magazine, Pittsburgh City Paper, Very Local Pittsburgh, GearPatrol and TheStreet. Amanda earned the 2021 Ray Sprigle Best of Show Award from the Western Pennsylvania Press Club for a story on stressed-out college counseling centers. She lives in Bloomfield with JunkJunk, a handsome, sad-looking tuxedo cat who wants only wet food and attention.
About the Photographer
Sean Collier is the editor-in-chief of Shady Ave and the arts and culture editor of TABLE Magazine. Before joining the TABLE Media team, he spent nearly 15 years as a writer, editor and columnist at Pittsburgh Magazine. As the in-house film critic for the top-rated WDVE Morning Show since 2009, he’s been Pittsburgh’s most widely heard voice on movies for nearly two decades. A Pittsburgh native, Sean has since 2020 appeared weekly on KDKA-TV’s popular Pittsburgh Today Live talk show. He’s the co-founder of Vigilance Theater Group and an active stand-up comedian and event host. He can be found on Instagram and Twitter at @seancollierpgh.
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