The worst-kept secret in Shreveport will be the most-anticipated ‘official’ opening on August 22, 2022. On that day, restaurateur and personality, Pepito Munoz, and executive chef, Raul Rodriguez, will welcome the public as he throws open the doors to Pepito XO @artspace. The restaurant is located at 708 Texas Street in historic downtown Shreveport.
I personally had the chance to get a sneak peek of the new restaurant and the wait is definitely worth it! The Zucchini Fritters appetizer were divine. The panko crusted zucchini spears were great but it was the house made marinara that really set it apart! It also comes with the bread brought out as well.
For my entree, I tried the Pasta XO dish. The house made pasta tossed in a creamy, rich sauce with mushrooms, spinach, cherry tomatoes, sautéed onions and chicken was amazing. The taste and texture of the sautéed onions were my favorite part of this dish, along with the grilled french bread. They serve two halves with this entree, which was more than enough! It’s so frustrating when restaurants bring out a tiny piece of bread to accompany your dish; this wasn’t the case at Pepito’s XO!
Pepito will bring his culinary know-how, his hard-working staff and his infectious smile to downtown to serve up a menu of globally inspired creations that highlight the culinary skills of his executive chef, including seafood, fish, steak, and vegetarian options. Delicious appetizers, entrees, desserts, and drinks of all types will be available for lunch and dinner dining, and weekend brunch.
“We are thrilled to welcome Pepito and his restaurant into the artspace family,” says Pam Atchison, Executive Director of the Shreveport Regional Arts Council, which manages artspace. “Pepito XO @artspace is one more step in the ongoing development of downtown Shreveport as an arts and entertainment destination.”
“There has been so much anticipation over this,” says Liz Swaine, Executive Director of the Downtown Development Authority, which owns 708 Texas St. “When people found out it was Pepito moving into the restaurant space, they just couldn’t contain themselves. Every week since the information got out, I have been answering the ‘but when?’ questions. Pepito has a lot of loyal fans and I know he will win even more with Pepito XO @artspace.”
Pepito XO @artspace will offer not only inside dining but a large sidewalk café, as well as office lunch options. To keep up with the happenings at Pepito XO @artspace, ‘like’ and ‘follow’ Pepito XO on Facebook.
