Hey lovelies, Happy 2017! I hope you’re all having a great start to the new year. I had an amazing opportunity to be let in on the #bartacosecret at Bartaco Dr. Phillips, and was accompanied by my best friend, Peter. If you haven’t heard of Bartaco, you’ll realize by the end of this post that you need to add it to your list of must-try taco joints. Scratch that – it’s so much more than just a taco joint.
Peter and I started off with chips, salsa verde, and guac (not pictured), which I’m always game for. The salsa verde was a refreshing change from the regular pico de gallo I’m used to eating chips with. As I was waiting for the #bartacosecret menu item of the week, I sipped on a watermelon margarita.
Margaritas are my favorite cocktail, and the bartenders at Bartaco make them to perfection. I normally go for mango margaritas, but the watermelon margarita did not disappoint. The watermelon chunks were the perfect addition.
Now for the secret.
This week’s #bartacosecret menu item was the braised short rib taco with a pickled fennel and onion mix on a white corn tortilla. I haven’t eaten ribs in over ten years, but this taco was everything. I added a little jalapeño sauce to it, but the taco honestly doesn’t need anything extra.
After trying the #bartacosecret taco, Peter and I put our lunch orders in. I decided to order the falafel and chicken tacos, but Van (one of the managers) was kind enough to send over some ‘must-try’ tacos.
(L to R: Cauliflower, Baja Fish, Portobello, Duck)
Truthfully, I had to split the tacos with Peter, because there was no way I would be able to finish all of them on my own. I tried the cauliflower and portobello tacos; the cauliflower taco had a sauce mixed with sri racha (which I L-O-V-E) and I was pleasantly surprised! It’s probably their spiciest taco, so I wouldn’t recommend it to people who aren’t fond of spicy foods. I’m not a huge fan of mushrooms, but the portobello taco with queso fresco was also good; not my favorite, but much better than I expected it to be. Peter had nothing but great things to say about the baja fish and duck tacos.
Last but not least was dessert, my favorite meal of the day.
Peter and I shared three of the four cones of gelato (chocolate, coconut, and mint chocolate chip), and left the vanilla cone to go with our churros. I got an insider tip that the churros taste amazing with the coconut gelato, which I definitely need to try next time. The gelato was on point! The chocolate was my favorite, and the mint chocolate chip was Peter’s favorite.
I had such an incredible experience finding out the #bartacosecret and Bartaco has definitely become one of my favorite restaurants. Its relaxed atmosphere and unique bites are the perfect combination for a Saturday night or weekday lunch. The staff are very helpful and I cannot express how grateful I am for taking care of us! Thanks for the memories, Bartaco!
All opinions in this collaborative post are one-hundred percent my own.
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