First Look: Dos Santos Taqueria Opens Saturday in Uptown

Brothers Kris and Jason Wallenta are ready to start slinging tacos and drinks at Dos Santos Taqueria de Mexico, their Uptown eatery that will open at 5 p.m. Saturday, July 11 in the East 17th Avenue space formerly occupied by D Bar. Chef Kris Wallenta already operates two restaurants in Cozumel, Mexico, where's he's lived for more than a decade, but the brothers grew up in Denver and wanted to bring a new taste of Mexico to the city.

Dos Santos features a concise menus of tacos and other Mexican fare, with an emphasis on seafood — like the OMFG taco with fresh tuna; the Del Mar with cerveza-battered shrimp or fish; or aguachile, a fiery ceviche-like dish of lime-cured shrimp in a chilled tomatillo and serrano broth.

Appetizers include three styles of guacamole (Kris Wallenta calls it Guak, as he's a big fan of the letter K), eskites — grilled and loaded corn on the cob — and a spicy cheese dip with sikil pak (a pumpkin seed puree). House cocktails feature tropical flavors in balanced proportions with premium spirits, for less than $9 each.

Kris Wallenta says Dos Santos will be open from 5 to 10 p.m. initially, but will add lunch hours starting at 10:30 a.m. late next week and will introduce brunch next weekend. Eventually, the taqueria will open for breakfast at 7 a.m., with counter-service breakfast tacos and an egg torta.

Inside, Dos Santos sports a decor that merges rustic finishes with industrial elements and a casual beach-shack vibe. Permitting delays mean the front patio is on hold for the moment, but Wallenta hopes to have it open soon — anywhere from two to six weeks.








Keep reading for more of our first look at Dos Santos:

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