Tacos and Tequila moves aside for Little Ricky’s spinoff restaurant

Inda Cruz has been watching and waiting. And now, he’s acting.

After 19 years leading the Little Ricky’s kitchen, the chef is opening his own restaurant, Little Honeycomb, in the former space of Little Ricky’s at 540 Lincoln Ave., Winnetka.

“I love cooking and teaching and it was time to open my own restaurant,” Cruz said, later adding, “we are so excited. We want to open as soon as possible.”

According to Liz DeChant, the village of Winnetka’s economic development coordinator, Little Honeycomb needs to pass its final inspection and should open in August.

“It’s wonderful to have a restaurant at the corner again,” she said.

The emergence of Little Honeycomb came at the expense of Tacos and Tequila, a restaurant announced by property owners Hoffman Commercial Real Estate in 2020.

It is unclear why Hoffman did not follow through with Tacos and Tequila, which is one of Hoffman’s brands. Messages from The Record to Hoffman Commercial Real Estate were not returned by press time.

Hoffman filed an eviction lawsuit against Little Ricky’s on June 18, 2020, as previously reported by The Record. The suit, which sought to reconcile $38,489, was settled for an undisclosed sum.

In the wake of the settlement, Tacos and Tequila was announced for the space. Eight months later, the sign for Tacos and Tequila was gone, and one for Little Honeycomb emerged.

Little Honeycomb, according to Cruz, will serve American and Mexican fare, from barbecue ribs to enchiladas and plenty in between — like a slate of loaded baked potatoes. Burgers, wraps and salads are included too.

The restaurant has good timing, as the village is putting the finishing touches on a streetscape project affecting Lincoln Avenue.

Little Honeycomb is one of up to 15 new businesses ready to join Winnetka this summer and fall, according to DeChant. Across the street from Little Honeycomb, Hometown Juice and Coffee is still working on the buildout of its second location and should open by September, DeChant said.