TINO’S KITCHEN: Food is better when we eat together

Celestino Galmadez, owner of Tino’s Kitchen in Englewood, cannot contain his love of sharing his good food and wants south Denver residents to “have a place to gather because food is better when we eat together.” He realized the need for more great breakfast choices and believes customers are bound to feel like they have a seat at his kitchen table.

Originally from El Salvador, Celestino and his family moved to Colorado in 1999 and have since made Denver their home. His culinary journey began at Maggiano’s Litle Italy where he started as a prep cook. Over time, he advanced through various positions, ultimately becoming a banquet chef. He spent more than 12 years honing his skills as a chef at Racines Restaurant until the restaurant closed its doors.

Together with his wife Cecilia Dominquez, their passion for culinary arts and event planning eventually led them to open a venue specializing in banquets, weddings and quinceañeras. Tino’s Kitchen opened its doors in December 2022 on Oswego Street in Englewood, conveniently located off Lincoln Avenue and Interstate 25.

Celestino secured the spot to offer a fusion of Mexican, Italian and American cuisine specialties, marrying the experiences of his professional culinary resume and Cecilia’s event planning talent. The location features a main dining room, private event space, bar and patio, and will serve guests seven days a week for breakfast, brunch and lunch, and dinner.

 

 

With its fresh, scratch-made menu, signature daytime cocktails and an inviting atmosphere, Tino’s Kitchen serves a variety of dishes. Breakfast offerings include a variety of omelets, eggs benedict, fluffy pancakes, French toast and avocado toast. Unique specialties include the Tres Leches French toast, ginger pancakes and Reuben balls—crispy rolls with corned beef, cheese and sauerkraut. For those stopping by for brunch or lunch, the menu also features a selection of sandwiches and fresh salads, ensuring there is something for everyone to enjoy. The popular breakfast menu will be offering new dishes in May with new seasonal items that will give you the perfect pick-me-up to kickstart the spring.

What is unique is that Celestino has gluten sensitivity despite his love for pasta and Mexican food. Celestino wondered, “Why can’t everyone start their day bright and enjoy their favorite items?”  He wanted to offer more gluten-free options, not just the typical one or two items on a menu.

Customers with food allergies can enjoy breakfast items such as scrumptious Nutella or blueberry lemon ricotta pancakes, Belgian waffles, and pork belly eggs benedict. Appetizers are available with gluten-free options for the queso poblano dip, artichoke dip and even nachos. Entrees include traditional, shrimp and fish tacos, as well as chicken alfredo pasta or baked ziti. Celestino believes dietary restrictions should not mean flavorless options.

One of the hardest things that he learned was restaurant management and operations. While he was most comfortable slicing and dicing in the kitchen, he said the learning curve of the business aspect was the most difficult to navigate, including marketing and advertising. The restaurant grew its audience with grassroots marketing, mostly referrals and word of mouth. A family affair, he has enlisted the assistance of Cecilia for their social media presence, and his daughter Paulina handles the front and reservations.

This unique concept pairs delicious food with a welcoming atmosphere, making it a go-to spot for morning and midday dining. The full-service bar offers flights as well as the popular hibiscus mezcal. Specialty mimosas such as hibiscus or lavender pair well with the brunch items. The Tropical Flight offers piña colada, Bahama Mama, mojito and Blue Hawaiian cocktails. The margarita flight is a crowd pleaser offering flavors of spicy pineapple, cucumber, mango and traditional Tino’s.

Tino’s also has space that can be reserved for private parties and events. Whether it is a birthday party, ladies’ poker night or marketing leads groups, Tino’s offers catering for events on or off site and can be booked with a minimum order of 10 people.

By ViVi Somphon