“Zengo is in its 5th year, so we feel that this is a good time to refresh our space and reinvent our spirits/cocktail and menu offerings,” a rep told us, noting that the sleek, spacious room would offer new experiences for neighborhood denizens and visitors. One of the novel services found at the Latin Lounge will be personalized bottles, which patrons can purchase and then have the drinkery store, ready to be accessed whenever they visit next. Liquor bottles are served with shakers and signature mixers, so guests can craft custom versions of their favorite libations.

Communal tables and seating will characterize the lower level, with a goal of recreating a laid-back vibe, spiced up with live DJs spinning Latin and global lounge rhythms every weekend. Sandoval tells us he’s looking to imitate the “lively and social meals that are reminiscent of large gatherings of friends and family when I was growing up in Mexico, where everyone would share, talk and interact.” Chef Graham Bartlett has designed a food menu that is well-suited to sharing with your group.

Happy hour will still take place 5–8 PM, Monday–Saturday, with $5 selected cocktails and bites. The full beverage menu featured signature sips, mixed and muddled with fresh fruit and herbs. Look for combinations like a spicy passion fruit pisco sour, a tequila martini with St. Germain and a kumquat-pomegranate caipirinha. Wines by the glass will be expanded to 15 offerings, showcasing flavors from Latin America with a weekly changing selection, curated by eirector of operations Carlos Rodriguez and beverage manager Daniel Burger.

When will this underground room of fun be open? We couldn’t get any more details than the generic “Winter 2012,” but the restaurant is running several promotions on Twitter and Facebook in the weeks leading up to the launch, so keep your eyes and ears posted for extra deals and invites to the grand opening. Salud!