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: