Taco Heads owners Sarah Castillo and Jacob Watson have announced their new undertaking, Tinie’s (pronounced /Tee’ Nees/) Mexican Rotisserie and Cocktail Lounge in South Main Village.
With an expected opening in January 2018, the two-story eatery and hangout spot will be part of the SoMa Development at 125 South Main St.
The first floor will feature a “family style Mexican rotisserie” with whole and half fire-roasted chicken, sides, tortillas, salsas, salad, tortas, tacos and breakfast. Options will also be available for to-go, catering and event support. Additionally, vegetarian selections will be provided.
Where the first floor will focus on food, the second is a lounge and cocktail area, called El Escondite (the hideaway), which will offer craft cocktails, Latin American beers, 60 different tequilas and mescal.
Though born and raised in Fort Worth’s South Side, the restaurant calls back to Castillo’s Mexican heritage and features Oaxacan rugs, rustic Mexican design and is named after her mother.
“Tinie is my mom’s nickname,” Castillo said in a news release. “She eats her Mexican food like your typical Mexican mom – breaking apart tortillas for your protein, rice and beans, and veggies– and this is how we learned to eat Mexican food.”
Glen Keely, owner and operator of Thompson’s Bookstore and Poag Mahone’s Irish Pub, is the pair’s business partner. Keely is also helping design the space to “create a bar like nothing developed before in Fort Worth,” the release said.
Castillo said the partnership with Keely made “perfect sense” as they worked well together previously when Taco Heads was located outside his bar.
“He was like a big brother to me,” she added. “He’s extremely talented.”
Castillo and Watson are also partnering with Fort Worth’s Studio 97w for architecture and design, though they are still bidding out contractors.
“The future of South Main Village relies on authentic brands with deep roots in North Texas; it only makes sense to partner with Tinie’s because their roots are the deepest in Fort Worth,” said Lori Henderson, SoMa district developer and building owner, in the release. “Not only do they bring real food made by real people, they bring character and a ton of energy.”