Santa Rosa Taqueria Officially Opens Tomorrow! (Saturday, April 16)

301 Pennsylvania Ave, SE

From a press release:

“Sunnyside Restaurant Group’s Santa Rosa Taqueria will open its new location on Thursday, April 16^th. The Capitol Hill spot, now located a few steps away from its original location at 301 Pennsylvania Avenue SE, boasts a new menu featuring contemporary Mexican dishes and an expansive margarita menu. Santa Rosa will open for lunch and dinner service with plans for weekend brunch and weekday happy hours shortly after. Proceeds from food and drink sales made during opening weekend, April 16^th – 17^th will be donated to World Central Kitchen in support of relief efforts in Ukraine.

“We are thrilled to open our doors again to the neighborhood with a brand-new look, feel, and menu. Those who loved Santa Rosa before are sure to love our new happy hour with tons of exciting cocktail options and samplers perfect for gathering with friends. We’re looking forward to seeing some new and familiar faces,” said Micheline and Catherine Mendelsohn in a joint statement.

courtesy Santa Rosa

Ed. Note: See the menus here.

Sunnyside Restaurant Group’s Consulting Chef Brian Lacayo collaborated with Catherine Mendelsohn to oversee Santa Rosa’s new menu, which features modern interpretations of traditional Mexican flavors and is heavily inspired by popular Mexican street foods. Highlights include a Piled High Volcano Nacho Bar with house made tortilla nachos and a selection of toppings, a Birria Taco with cheesy pot roast and consommé, and a less traditional Roasted Harissa Cauliflower Taco that reflects Santa Rosa’s commitment to serving fresh, locally sourced ingredients.

Veteran mixologist, Gina Chersevani, of Buffalo & Bergen, Suburbia DC and Last Call, has partnered with the restaurant to introduce a creative new beverage program that reimagines the traditional margarita, drawing inspiration from Santa Rosa’s seasonal menu. The margarita list extends 10 unique options to diners including a Guava Mango and Passionfruit & Rose flavor along with more playful offerings like the Blue Lagoon with Milagro silver tequila, fresh lime and dehydrated seaweed and Frozen Pleasures with frozen lime margarita topped with fresh mango, pineapple, and lime. A selection of beer and wine will also be available.

Designed by Sunnyside Restaurant Group, the space is intended to cultivate a serene yet fun feel, tapping into the vibrant colors frequently associated with Mexico. Muted beiges and grays are seen throughout the interior of the space with pops of turquoise Talavera tiles. Local artist Rodrigo Pradel pays homage to Mexican culture with a Day of the Dead-inspired mural featuring butterfly accents adjacent to the staircase and colorful graffiti decorating the exterior of the space.

The 60-seat spacious dining room and 60-seat outdoor patio area will welcome guests seven days a week from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Santa Rosa will offer guests takeout and catering for pick-up at the restaurant. Delivery service will be available through GrubHub and UberEats. Details on the new weekday happy hour and soon-to-launch brunch will be made available in the coming weeks.”