A new Mexican restaurant, sharing an owner with popular local eatery, to open in Sarasota

Jimmy Geurts, Sarasota Herald-Tribune
Updated ·2 min read

The owner of a popular local Mexican eatery is part of the group opening a new restaurant in a prominent spot in Sarasota's Gulf Gate neighborhood.

Kolucan Mexican Bar and Grill will take over the 6644 Gateway Ave. space that's been the former home of multiple other restaurants, most recently Opus. Kolucan is awaiting its final permits and inspections but hopes to open by late August or early September, said Gino Calleja, who will co-own the new restaurant with Jose Rojas. Calleja also owns Reyna's Taqueria, which has two locations in Sarasota Commons and the food court at Sarasota Square Mall.

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Gino Calleja, center, will co-own the upcoming Kolucan Mexican Bar and Grill opening in Sarasota's Gulf Gate neighborhood. Calleja also owns Reyna's Taqueria, which has two locations in Sarasota.
Gino Calleja, center, will co-own the upcoming Kolucan Mexican Bar and Grill opening in Sarasota's Gulf Gate neighborhood. Calleja also owns Reyna's Taqueria, which has two locations in Sarasota.

Calleja said he and Rojas, a former chef at the since-closed Louies Modern in downtown Sarasota, had known each other for several years and talked about opening a restaurant together, finally feeling they'd found the right spot with the Opus space. Like Reyna's Taqueria, Kolucan will serve Mexican cuisine (the restaurant's name pays homage to San Lucas Colucán, Mexico, where Calleja and his parents were born), but "a little more refined."

“People can still taste the Reyna’s flavors, but just a bigger, nicer setting, with great cocktails and margaritas and stuff like that,” Calleja said.

Kolucan Mexican Bar and Grill will feature dishes such as callo de hacha, pictured here.
Kolucan Mexican Bar and Grill will feature dishes such as callo de hacha, pictured here.

Calleja and Rojas collaborated together on the menu, which will incorporate cuisine from various regions of Mexico. Menu items will include Red Snapper Veracruz, a traditional dish from the titular Mexican region, and callo de hacha scallops served with a street corn risotto.

Kolucan will also have a full-liquor bar, with a drink menu including various margaritas and tequila flights. It also plans to offer wines from areas such as Guanajuato, Mexico and Baja, California, and beers on draft ranging from Modelo to local craft, including a Pachanga Mexican-style lager from Sun King Brewing, which has a Sarasota taproom.

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Kolucan Mexican Bar and Grill will feature artwork by local artist Alexis Fraser, also known as Lipstick Lex.
Kolucan Mexican Bar and Grill will feature artwork by local artist Alexis Fraser, also known as Lipstick Lex.

The restaurant will seat around 170 in total in its main dining room, lounge and patio. It will also feature artwork from local artist Alexis Fraser, aka Lipstick Lex, and plans to host events including live music and painting.

Kolucan initially plans to open for dinner Monday through Saturday, then for lunch hours starting at 11 a.m., then adding Saturday and Sunday brunch, Calleja said. For more information, call 941-921-3133 or visit kolucan.com.

Email entertainment reporter Jimmy Geurts at jimmy.geurts@heraldtribune.com. Support local journalism by subscribing.

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: New restaurant Kolucan Mexican Bar and Grill to open in Sarasota