The curtain has closed on Tucos, the charming and eclectic restaurant in Davis. Quite literally, a red curtain is draped over the door with no clear sign of closure, nor with any sign of activity.
Apparently, Tucos (130 G Street) went dark Sunday, April 12. Its chef-owner Pru Mendez is closing up shop in order to dedicate time to his tech startup, Internet Age Fun Company, according to an announcement on Facebook.
My technology and entertainment startup has received first round funding and I’ve decided to close Tucos, just too much stress and anxiety for me my employees and the planet. I know many of you enjoyed our vibe but we were never more than arms reach from bankruptcy. My family friends and beyond deserve better.
Mendez also said in the announcement that he will keep Tucos as his startup’s headquarters, but he also alluded to the possibility of entertaining diners there as well.
Tucos was one of the few upscale, quality dining options in downtown Davis, with an extensive wine list and menu that dipped into many parts of the world. The restaurant received a mostly glowing three-star review from the Sacramento Bee’s former food critic Blair Anthony Robertson last fall, with three and a half stars for the food, which “is consistently good, the array of international dishes is impressive, and the flavors are often very impressive, if not profound.”
Update 4/16: Mendez got back to SN&R to elaborate on that previous allusion to still entertaining at Tucos. He’s calling it “Chef Pru’s Coconut Renaissance Faire.”
“I love Renaissance Fairs [sic], very fun and popular in Florida where I moved here from,” he wrote.
The deal: $23 per person for a full day of Mendez-prepared food and fun—potentially music, a Burning Man-meets-tropical camping feel and no corkage fee when you bring your own booze. It’s unclear exactly when or how often the faire will go down, or how publicized it will be, but Mendez said he’s only communicating on Instagram from now on. There’s a lot to scroll through, but if you’re intrigued and dedicated, here ya go.
