Maize Cantina Gets New Name, Owner

Maize Cantina, located on Jericho Turnpike in North Gate Shopping Center, has been sold to Elizabeth Keschl, a local caterer who plans to reopen the restaurant as Perfecto Mundo with her executive chef, Steven Del Lima, the first week of September.

Perfecto Mundo will be a Latin-fusion restaurant with an emphasis on seafood, the first of its kind in the area, Del Lima said. Del Lima has worked in the Huntington area for the past six years, as a chef at Black and Blue Seafood chophouse in Huntington Village.

The 1140 Jericho Turnpike location is on a corner in the North Gate shopping center,at Kings Park Avenue. Del Lima said it is a "great spot for what we're going to do."

The cuisine is "inexpensive," Del Lima said, with entrees under $23 each. The details have not been worked out yet, but Del Lima said there will be daily specials ranging from Sangria Sundays to Thirsty Thursdays with some sort of combined entree and drink special.

Maiza Cantina was also a Latin restaurant, owned by chef-owner Mike Merida. Merida said that it was a difficult location because of its corner location in North Gate. He plans to choose another venture in Manhattan eventually.