Santa Rosa Taqueria at 2815 Clarendon Blvd (staff photo by Dan Egitto)
Santa Rosa Taqueria at 2815 Clarendon Blvd (staff photo by Dan Egitto)
Santa Rosa Taqueria at 2815 Clarendon Blvd (staff photo by Dan Egitto)
Santa Rosa Taqueria is planning to open in Clarendon within the next few weeks, bringing tacos and a rotating margarita bar to the former Seamore’s space.
The second Santa Rosa Taqueria location, which joins another that opened in D.C. in 2017, plans to open by early October, Micheline Mendelsohn, deputy CEO for Sunnyside Restaurant Group, told ARLnow.
She said she is looking forward to the prominent location at 2815 Clarendon Blvd, where she aims to build on the model of the brand’s other location on Capitol Hill.
“Everybody’s really excited for us to get there, and we’re very excited to be there,” Mendelsohn said. “It’s a community that my parents, and [Chef Spike Mendelsohn], have lived in. We’ve since moved away from there, but we know it really well, and we love it.”
The taqueria is known for its Mexican cuisine and margarita bar with rotating seasonal flavors. It works with mixologist Andra “AJ” Johnson, who creates unique flavor combinations to pair with menu items like tacos and nachos.
Flavors include grapefruit, cranberry, hibiscus, sorrel and even marigold. Diners can expect similar options in the new location, but some menu items will rotate seasonally in Clarendon.
“We try and be innovative with what we’re doing, but also staying true to the authentic flavors, and that’s really the idea behind all of our restaurants,” Mendelsohn said. “This Santa Rosa will mimic slightly the one on Capitol Hill, but the interior is going to be chic and fun and still maintaining a fast-casual vibe to it.”
Sunnyside Restaurant Group also owns Good Stuff Eatery, Bumblebirds, Big Top Ice Cream Bar and We, The Pizza. Mendelsohn said it hopes to keep expanding and creating new restaurants, but with rising costs and a higher number of people ordering takeout instead of dining in, it can be taxing to run and maintain a restaurant.
However, she has high hopes for the spot where Seamore’s seafood restaurant closed last year.
“When I saw that the space was up, I called Regency immediately,” Mendelsohn said.
Chelsea DuDeVoire Careccia, the communications manager at Regency Centers, said that the new restaurant will provide more reasons for people to dine and shop at the Crossing Clarendon.
“Santa Rosa Taqueria is a great complement to our diverse tenant mix, and we expect it to bring even more energy and foot traffic to the property,” Careccia said in an email.
Mendelsohn said she’s looking forward to integrating Santa Rosa into that community. She hopes to participate in the Crossing Clarendon’s events, such as the annual holiday market, where she wants to promote the restaurant’s hot chocolate and churros.
“Restaurants are a gathering place, and we really feel like that area gathers a lot of people with the different things that the landlords do, and so we’re excited to be part of that,” Mendelsohn said.
Dining and Cooking