Look for Federales, a Mexican cantina, to open in Federal Hill later this year, says Brian McComas, a partner with the Federal Hill Hospitality Group (FHHG). The chef will be Francisco Lopez, who was born and raised in Mexico.

Of late, Francisco has been a sous chef at nearby Ryleigh’s Oyster (also part of the Fed Hill restaurant group). Brian, who e-mailed me during a vacation in Bethany (thanks, Brian), says Federales just received approval for a liquor license transfer. The restaurant, at 1100-1106 S. Charles St., across from Cross Street Market, will be casual with reasonably priced, upscale cuisine.

In other FHHG news, Avery’s Pearl—which was supposed to open this past spring—is still in the works but is a little behind schedule, Brian says, as the group focuses on its restaurant Taverna Corvino and now Federales. And at Ryleigh’s Oyster, Brian wanted me to know that chef Patrick Morrow (formerly a sous chef the defunct VIN in Towson) has been putting a creative spin on the restaurant’s menu.

I’ve also been told that another restaurant group (um, the Charleston people) has been scouting out possible restaurant sites. Sometimes, the weakened economy presents opportunities.