Los Angeles design firm Bells & Whistles, headed by principals Barbara Rourke and Jason St. John, has completed work on chef Javier Plascencia’s Bracero Cocina de Raiz restaurant.
Located in San Diego, the Mexican-inspired restaurant is influenced by the
1942 Bracero Program—an agreement that was made between the U.S. and Mexico to bring in workers, known as braceros, while American soldiers were away fighting in World War II. These laborers are partially responsible for making California dining what it is today.
The 4,800-square-foot, two-story restaurant features a warm color palette that serves as the backdrop for leather-upholstered chairs and saddle-inspired booths situated around wood tables. Hardwood flooring, hanging succulents, along with objects and art sourced from Mexico add to the space’s rustic ambiance.
A leather-clad storage cabinet stands behind the bar and spans both floors, while a landing wall installation leading upstairs features a grouping of genuine, hand-selected Bracero hats. A centrally placed tilling sculpture hangs between the floors.
Outfitted in concrete tiles arranged in a geometric agave pattern, the upstairs bar is flanked by an exposed kitchen and a wall with vintage Mexican hand tools.
