Opening for dinner and drinks on Wednesday, August 7, Harwood Hospitality Group’s latest creation, Te Deseo will feature Latin American-inspired cuisine and cocktails in a stunning environment of multiple social and dining spaces each with differing personalities and design.
Located at 2700 Olive Street, adjacent to sister concept Happiest Hour, the 14,000 square foot restaurant features a sultry lit interior with a series of uniquely designed dining rooms, tiled courtyard, four bars, and a stunning rooftop overlooking the city. Enhanced by a lively lineup of Friday and Saturday night entertainment, Te Deseo promises to be an exciting destination with energy lasting well into the night.
The new venue offers over 100 specialty tequilas and mezcals along with inspired cocktails that highlight Latin American spirits including cachaça in the Brazillionaire, aguardiente in the La Calena, and pisco – the star of three cocktails. Found at every bar is the ultimate jewel of the program, the Chupito de la Casa. A signature house shot of reposado tequila, the Chupito de la Casa is the result of an extensive tequila taste test by the founders of Te Deseo to create a one-of-a-kind, specialty blend of tequila.
Led by Executive Chef Ty Thaxton, the culinary menu blends flavors inspired by many regions of Latin America, with prominent influence from Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, and Peru. Thaxton feels these countries feature the most interesting cuisine with dishes that are approachable. He explains, “We are presenting dishes that might be a little unexpected and different but are still relatable and crave-able.”
Recognized as one of the Top 50 Chefs in Mexico, Thaxton delivers the art of highlighting honest ingredients, using a variety of cooking styles and presenting contemporary interpretations of true Latin American cuisine.
He says, “We ultimately combined several different recipes and techniques of Central America. Most items are made in-house: from the dough, chorizo, sauces, to our tortilla chips and more. Although, if a local tortilleria is making better tortillas than us, we will buy from them. For instance, we went out of our way to find a source for real blue corn tortillas. We finally chose to work with one in the Southwest using real blue corn – not dying it.” Thaxton continues, “We also use high-quality, award-winning beef from Allen Brothers and a tremendous amount of specialty products such as pastes, chiles, and seasonings from all over the region.”
The menu showcases familiar items such as enchiladas and tacos to interpretations of traditional Latin American fare such as Peruvian-style sashimi and wood-fired meat skewers known as Anticuchos. A carefully planned taste of the region divided into eight sections: Tiraditos: Peruvian-style sashimi with storied history brought along by Japanese immigrants; Ceviche: fresh seafood prepared with house-made citrus juice marinades; Anticuchos: wood fired skewers of marinated chicken, shrimp, and beef popular in South America; Plato Común: shared small plates of familiar dishes such as guacamole and stuffed arepas along with characteristic Asian fusion selections; De Leña | Mar + Tierra: individual main courses from the land and sea primarily prepared with wood fire cooking; Parrillada: shared family plates of impressive meat cuts, including a tomahawk ribeye, that showcase a variety of culinary techniques from self-basting to smoking and wood fire cooking; Tacos: a section dedicated to a staple from Mexico; Dolces: traditional and street-style desserts with irresistible flavors and playful presentations by the pastry chef.
Harwood Hospitality’s venues are known for transporting guests out of their ordinary day – from the architectural and interior design to the service and experience. Stephen Bello, Senior Vice President of Harwood Hospitality Group says, “We have a heartbeat and a great culture within our division. The beautiful buildings lure people in and our people are taught the ‘Harwood Way’ to ensure guests go home with unforgettable memories that keep them coming back.”
He continues, “Latin American culture embodies excitement, mystery, love of life, bonding over food and drink, dancing, and more. We have been training for weeks and building a venue that we feel best embodies this. It wouldn’t be surprising to take home a story from Te Deseo that a server pulled you out of your chair to dance in the courtyard or under the stars on the rooftop,” explains Bello.
Te Deseo is open for dinner and drinks Monday through Saturday beginning at 5 PM. Limited to reservations only in the beginning weeks, dinner is served until 10 PM Monday through Thursday and 11 PM on Friday and Saturday. Te Deseo’s bars will stay open until midnight Monday through Wednesday and extend to 2 AM Thursday through Saturday.
