Plantain Girl Mandy Estrella will open Mayo Ketchup in Lafayette Square

After bringing her takes on Latin American cuisine revolving around the humble plantain to St. Louis via catering, pop-ups and partnerships, Mandy Estrella, aka Plantain Girl, is poised to debut her first solo restaurant venture. Estrella will open Mayo Ketchup, named after Puerto Rico’s favorite condiment, in the former Laredo at 2001 Park Ave., in Lafayette Square later this summer. Laredo quietly closed doors last week. 

Estrella said the space hit a multitude of marks for what she wanted for her first place: centrally located, already built out as a restaurant and plenty of space for families and larger groups.

What I Do: Mandy Estrella of Plantain Girl

“The kitchen is pretty much perfect for what we do,” Estrella said.  

Estrella said Mayo Ketchup will be a fast-casual eatery, allowing guests to dine at their own pace. Like her previous projects, Estrella will continue to concentrate on the ingredients and flavors of Puerto Rico, Cuba and the Dominican Republic, though the larger kitchen allows for a more expanded menu than before.

In order to concentrate on the new eatery, Estrella said she has stepped away from her last project, providing food service at Doghaus in Soulard. She said Doghaus is currently doing its own food service in-house. 

Matt Sorrell is a staff writer at Sauce Magazine.