The revival of South Tejon Street’s 500 block is underway. Streetcar520 is now open, and Denver exports Dos Santos Taqueria and the Atomic Provisions trio of Denver Biscuit Company, Fat Sully’s and Atomic Cowboy are on the verge of opening in the coming month. We wanted to get a taste of what to expect, so we headed north for a preview of what’s to come on South Tejon at the end of August (Atomic Provisions) and beginning of September (Dos Santos).
Dos Santos
With award-winning Uptown Denver origins, this fresh Mexican restaurant specializes in Caribbean-style tacos and unique cocktails for lunch, dinner and happy hour.
The Vibe
Similar to the Denver location, Dos Santos will be modern rustic with wood, steel and brick finishes throughout. Expect an authentic and antique feel in the casual, welcoming restaurant, thanks to communal tables and a large bar. “It’s a fun place to sit down, drink some good margs, and have some tacos,” co-owner Jason Wallenta says.
The Food
Both locations will share the same menu, aside from some local, Colorado Springs beers on tap and rotating specials. Most food items include fresh, simple meat and ingredients, but many have unique twists. There are four variations of guacamole, including one with bacon and fruit. And happy hour-only offerings include Chicken Tinga Chips, similar to nachos, and Raw Tuna Tostada Bites, made with sushi-grade ahi tuna.
Of course, tacos are king on the entire lunch and dinner menus, with everything from chicken, pork and steak to vegetarian and dairy-free options. One of the most unique—and most delicious—is the well-named O.M.F.G.. The taco is served in a bib lettuce “tortilla,” filled with raw tuna, pickled onion, avocado and cabbage, and topped with lime cilantro aioli.
Finish your meal with the Choco Taco, a house-made waffle taco with vanilla bean ice cream, chocolate ganache, crumbled pepita crunch and served in a dinosaur taco holder. Talk about a sweet ending.
The cocktail menu features a number of margaritas, including a spicy variation as well as a couple frozen options. All are made fresh—no premade mixes. The frozen strawberry margarita goes down easy. And we especially love the house-made basil lime liqueur featured in the Dos Santos mule—worth a shot of its own. You can thank us later.
Atomic Provisions
Atomic Provisions is three restaurants in one space, rotating menus through the progression of the day and night. Together, Denver Biscuit Company, Fat Sully’s and Atomic Cowboy will be open 18 hours a day serving breakfast, lunch, dinner and late-night drinks and pizza.
The Vibe
With four locations in Denver, Atomic Provisions likes to keep the feel of its restaurants the same, but the Springs location is three times the size of the Denver locations with space for private parties and a 2,500-square-foot rooftop deck. Owner Drew Shader had been looking for the right location in Colorado Springs, and found the perfect spot in the former Southside Johnny’s building. “We have very old buildings, and that’s what we loved about the building down there,” he says.
Expect a warm and inviting space, with comfortable areas to sit and hang out for a couple hours. The rooftop deck is two-thirds climate-controlled, so you’ll be able to sit outside during snow or sunshine. It’s finished with garage doors and, of course, great views of Pikes Peak.
The Food
The time of day will determine what you can order off the menu. Denver Biscuit Company will serve breakfast options from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Fat Sully’s will serve pizza from 11 a.m. to close, and Atomic Cowboy will sling drinks all day.
Denver Biscuit Company’s menu will be the same as its Denver locations, with a huge selection of large, belly-busting biscuit sandwiches. Sweet and savory options include the Dahlia, with sausage, apple butter, a fried egg and maple syrup, and the Franklin, stuffed with buttermilk fried chicken, bacon, cheddar cheese and smothered in gravy. The biscuit sandwiches form the entree majority, but our favorite is the Shrimp and Grits: hollowed-out biscuits filled with Logan Mill grits, rock shrimp and poached pancetta.
Fat Sully’s will feature long-time Denver favorite pizzas, but also test new, family-style dishes for Colorado Springs dinners. Diners will be able to order a 2.5-pound lasagna or chicken parmesan to eat in the restaurant or carry out.
Expect to find local options on Atomic Cowboy’s 30-some beer taps and cocktail offerings. The Strawberry Rhubarb Mule is created with house-made strawberry rhubarb jam. And you’ll find coffee by local favorite Loyal Coffee.
