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De Santos is the fourth location of a proliferating chainlet and the joint venture, in part, of a Cuban-Colombian drummer, his Mexican-Italian brother-in-law, and two Italian veterans of Savanna's in Southampton. The restaurant group originated in Mexico, as did Alex González's Latin rock band, Maná. But that provenance isn't reflected in De Santos' modern Italian menu, which resembles Savanna's and includes dishes like roasted Long Island duck, almond-crusted lamb chops, and cavatelli with mussels and cannellini beans (pictured; entrées $20 to $27). Occupying the basement and ground floors of the Greenwich Village brownstone that previously housed Caffé Torino, De Santos is equipped with a patio, an international wine list, and the all-important sound system—because according to partner Luis Miguel Amutio, "Food tastes better with music." — Rob Patronite and Robin Raisfeld

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• New York Restaurant Openings: The Libertine, Bloomingdale Road, De Santos, and Ninth Street Espresso (9/15/08)