Tacos

Finally!  I had the chance to go to Taco Tantos.  It is a small place with a small bar, but they are quick and the service is amazing.  I usually do not comment on the service because it is just normal or expected, but the waitress here was great.  She was kind, friendly, and heard you when you asked for something or tried to get her attention even when she was running around to serve everyone.  They have great options including gluten free, vegan and vegetarian options. 

I love meat and a steak taco is one of my favorite things to eat.  I was a little concerned for $4 what I was going to get, but was pleasantly surprised.  The steak was nice chunks of beef cooked and seasoned perfectly.  The taco come with cheese, tomatoes and lettuce and I added jalapenos for $.75.  The shell was thick enough that it did not break when you would bite in to it.  They also offer soft shell tacos, burritos, and burrito bowls.   My dining companions each ordered soft shell tacos and they were huge, not wimpy tacos.  To start we ordered the large fresh salsa and the large queso.  Both were delicious.  The salsa was really fresh with great seasoning.  It was more like a pico de gayo with the large chunks of tomatoes and onions in it.  You could smell the fresh herbs as well.  These ran between $4-5 each and were well worth the price of the large.  I had also ordered on the side the salsa verde and citrus cilantro.  Both sauces were great but really not needed on the taco.  They may have been better with the burrito or the bowl. 

To top off the night we had s a few drinks.  I enjoyed a cilantro lemonade and one of my friends a blackberry margarita.  They were great not too strong but not watered down either.      They also have daily specials that sound amazing and a taco Tuesday!  I cannot wait to go back.  It is a place you could go alone and feel comfortable just sitting at the bar enjoying your taco!

Cheap Cuban Food!

The other day I finally had a chance to stop at a little place on Madison Rd in Lakewood, Barroco Grill.  The inside is small and festive with handwritten graffiti on the walls.  The menu is traditional with a twist.  While they serve Arepas and Cuban sandwiches, they also have hot dogs and hamburgers.  Most of the items are under $9 each, but they do have some items under the Gourmet section that are $11-17.  While the more expensive items sound amazing...I am sticking with the cheap items for the blog.

My experience was the Cuban sandwich for $9.  It was a great sandwich and a perfect balance of bread and filling.  For me the sandwich was big enough to have half for lunch and half for dinner.  Although I am sure others could eat the entire thing in one sitting.  The traditional Cuban has sliced pork, ham, mozzarella cheese, garlic sauce, lettuce, tomato and I also had a side of the green sauce to dip it in.  This sandwich did not come with fries, but it did not need them. 

They also serve arepas, they looked and smelled amazing!  All of the arepas are serves with fries and wasabi coleslaw.  There are 6 different ones, including a vegetarian option.  The most traditional arepa has your choice of chicken, steak, pork or chorizo with onion, peppers, and mushrooms.  In addition to the six various options, you can also get a burger on an arepa.  There are also around $9 each.

Another great deal on the menu is the Cheesy Corn!  The Cheesy Corn is corn gratin with chicken, bacon, mozzarella and arepa fries.  It just sounds amazing, although I have not yet tried it.  Maybe on my next trip out there. 

If you want to eat there, it is a great fun atmosphere and the day I stopped by had a lot of families.  I would recommend this for any weekend when you are looking for a yummy quick lunch!