OUR STORY
Some restaurants are born from business plans. Dos Gatos was born from tequila, tacos, and two friends with a wild idea. After 22 years of friendship, countless late-night conversations, and zero experience running a restaurant, founders Adam Roberson and Jesse Soto decided it was time to build something of their own.
In 2023, during a whiskey-fueled brainstorming session, Jesse mentioned that a small restaurant space in the building across the street from his apartment was becoming available. He pictured a cozy taco-and-tequila hideaway. Adam didn’t hesitate—within hours he had come up with the name, designed the logo, and bought the domain. Dos Gatos was set in motion before either of them fully realized what they’d started.
Two weeks after that first brainstorm, Adam was already knee-deep in construction, remodeling the basement of an old Masonic building while he and Jesse honed the concept and design together. And from the moment the doors opened, Adam was fully immersed in the day-to-day realities of running a restaurant—learning operations, solving problems on the fly, and figuring out the business one challenge at a time. Over time, Adam naturally stepped into the role of sole owner and operator, while Jesse continued to cheer on the project with pride in what they had created together.
About six months in, Chef Gary Cooper, a deeply talented chef from Washington, D.C., joined the team and elevated every dish that came out of the kitchen. Adam recruited him by chance, and to this day believes it was the best decision Dos Gatos ever made. Gary is a culinary encyclopedia—brilliant in the kitchen, endlessly curious, and somehow an even better human than he is a chef.
Having come in with no restaurant background, Adam taught himself everything he could—studying YouTube tutorials, listening to mentors, and relying on instinct when there was no guide to follow. He spent countless late nights and early mornings during that first year, determined to give Dos Gatos a real shot at becoming something lasting. Little by little, day by day, the restaurant grew into the warm, welcoming neighborhood gathering place it is now.
Dos Gatos proudly draws inspiration from the flavors of Jesse’s Mexican heritage, including recipes passed down from his mother and grandmother. Combined with Adam and Jesse’s shared love of travel, food, and hospitality, the menu became more than dishes on a plate—it became a story, a memory, a feeling.
From the beginning, the mission has been simple:
Serve great food, pour damn good drinks, and make people feel something.
Not just fed. Not just served. Seen. Welcomed. Connected.
And just as importantly, to take care of the people who take care of our guests. Our staff is our number one priority, because a supported, respected, and happy team creates the atmosphere guests feel the moment they walk in the door.
What began as a spontaneous idea between two lifelong friends has grown into a true community space—a home for neighbors, travelers, friends, families, first dates, last dates, and everyone in between.
Thanks for being part of our story. We can’t wait to be part of yours.