T/ACO
This downtown taqueria is located at 1175 Walnut Street just west of Broadway. Convenient parking is right across the street in the Walnut parking garage. This restaurant has been critiqued by many restaurant critics in the past, but never by
the "Kids' Kritics". Opened in 2012, this restaurant has successfully survived the competitive restaurant world in Boulder. Let's see if they can survive the "Kids' Kitics" too! T/ACO's goal is to make all their food as fresh and delicious as possible. That means making the salsas and tortillas in-house and buying the freshest whole ingredients. T/ACO makes all their food not only delicious but also healthy! In Downtown Boulder's T/ACO spotlight the managing partner Peter Waters said "I wanted a break from corporate sales so I thought I'd help my friends open up a restaurant in Boulder. I would trade tequila and tacos for telecomm sales any day of the week." To look at more info or to see the menu, go to http://tacocolorado.com/. $$$$$
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the "Kids' Kritics". Opened in 2012, this restaurant has successfully survived the competitive restaurant world in Boulder. Let's see if they can survive the "Kids' Kitics" too! T/ACO's goal is to make all their food as fresh and delicious as possible. That means making the salsas and tortillas in-house and buying the freshest whole ingredients. T/ACO makes all their food not only delicious but also healthy! In Downtown Boulder's T/ACO spotlight the managing partner Peter Waters said "I wanted a break from corporate sales so I thought I'd help my friends open up a restaurant in Boulder. I would trade tequila and tacos for telecomm sales any day of the week." To look at more info or to see the menu, go to http://tacocolorado.com/. $$$$$
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MARYN'S OPINION
The first thing I noticed when I walked in was the brightly colored sombreros lining the back wall. The dash of color applied a fun ambiance to the restaurant. The wooden walls added a rustic feeling. Even though we arrived before noon all the tables were filled with people having lively conversations. The host greeted us kindly and showed us to our table looking out onto Walnut Street.
To begin my lunch I ordered a lemonade to cleanse my palate. The sweet acidic beverage was the perfect way to cool down on a warm day. We ordered the Three Fresh Salsas for our first appetizer. The salsas were green, yellow and red. The green salsa was a tomatillo salsa. I was expecting a super spicy salsa, but it was sweet! The yellow salsa was pineapple pepper. It was sweet and the pineapple was strong but not overpowering. This salsa had a spicy aftertaste, but I still consider it kid-friendly. The red salsa was a classic red tomato salsa. This salsa was mild at first but got more spicy over time. I really enjoyed these salsas! I'm very sensitive to spicy foods, but these salsas had a nice gentle zing. The salsas also came with made-to-order chips. The beautifully made chips that came in a bag were warm, salty and crunchy. The chips hit the mark with the salsas! We also ordered the Tomato y Avocado side bowl. It was presented very nicely in an authentic stone bowl. This dish had diced tomato and avocado. It was cool and refreshing and was a perfect palate cleanser. I wish I could have more of it now! We couldn't resist two other appetizers: the queso and guacamole. The queso had lots of spices and was super creamy. While it was hot it was stringy and gooey. After time it hardened and the cheese was completely different, but still delectable. This happens because its REAL cheese, not the nacho cheese at the movie theater. The freshly made guacamole had chunky bits of avocado and diced onions. The salty and zesty flavor of the guac really complemented the salsas. For my entrée I decided on the Cotija Tacos. These were so good! At the bottom there was this salty, bold, rich, amazing grilled cotija cheese that made the perfect combo with the citrusy guacamole and tomato that topped it off. Two thumbs up! Last but definitely not least we ordered the Mexican Mouth Pillows. Mexican mouth pillows are puffy fried dough dipped in cinnamon and sugar. It also had a bowl of honey that we poured over the mouth pillows. I think I'm in love! The sweet warm dough took me back to eating churros at a carnival. I loved this dessert! T/ACO is a great family restaurant. It's the perfect place to eat after a day on Pearl Street. The friendly ambiance and beautiful decor is welcoming and warm. I recommend coming to this restaurant soon! |
GALLERY
Outside T/ACO.
The Three Fresh Salsas and guacamole.
Colter taste testing.
Two thumbs up!
Colter enjoying the fish taco.
A delicious taco!
Tomato y Avocado.
The Mexican Mouth Pillows.
Mmhhh!
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COLTER'S OPINION
Our adventure started when the managing partner of T/ACO, Mr. Peter Waters invited us to "Kritique" this restaurant. Of course we were delighted.
To start my meal, I ordered Three Salsas, made-to-order tortilla chips and guacamole. I also ordered a Mexican Coke. The first salsa I tried was the classic red tomato. You can find this salsa in any Mexican restaurant, but this one had a homemade taste that made it memorable. This salsa was not overwhelmingly spicy and had an addictive quality. Definitely a good and safe option for kids. The next salsa I sampled was the green tomatillo. This salsa had a fresh taste and the fragrant smell of fresh greens from the garden. Probably one you'll have to coax your kids to try if they don't like "green" food! If kids can get past the green color the taste might pleasantly surprise them. Last but not least was the pineapple salsa. This was a very fruity and sweet salsa, but it had a bit of a kick. I also loved this salsa with the warm tortilla chips. It was an easy kid-pleaser. The queso was delicious, melted REAL cheese...not the yucky stuff you get at the ball game. So when it cooled down, it hardened into a firm block, so ya better eat quickly! The queso was busy with flavor, and the rich flavor begged to have the bowl licked clean. I am confident to say that kids will devour this like there is no tomorrow. Along with the salsa and queso, I had guacamole. The tell-tale sign of an amazing guac is the combination of smooth and chunky avocado. This one delivered. Now, for what T/ACO is known for……The TACOS! I ordered two tacos: the Fish Taco, and the Mango Caesar Taco. The Fish Taco consisted of perfectly grilled fish and a mixture of cabbage, red onion, and radish. An additional slice of avocado rested on top. The chipotle mayo spiced up the bite. The filling was so generous that I could barely wrap the soft tortilla around it. The second taco I devoured was the Mango Caesar. I ordered this taco off the North of the Border section of the menu. These unique tacos are especially made for the guests who don't feel like having the run-of-the-mill Mexican taco but still want to go to T/ACO. The marinated chicken was partnered extremly well with the mango. Not your normal taco, but most kids will love this. Other options that are not your traditional tacos are the Buffalo Chicken Taco and the Pork BBQ Taco. These give customers new and alternative options. Peter Waters told us these tacos have different flavor experiences for people who seek unusual taco styles. For dessert I enjoyed the Mexican mouth pillows. These lip-smacking confections were delightful with golden honey cascading lavishly on the top. This dessert is the Mexican version of the beignet, which I LOVE. These finger-licking delights were beautifully crisped on the outside with a light and airy core. A whisper of cinnamon created an extraordinary finish. Oh, and did I mention this all went down so so well with my Mexican Coke? This was a once-in-a-blue-moon coke I get to enjoy!!! Overall, this place is great to bring your family and a fabulous place to spend the night out! |