Skip to main content

Taco + Pina

Wow.  Actually able to try out a new restaurant which opened during quarantine -- and it was terrific!  Yes, I got take-out, but that was an advantage as I was able to sample a much wider range of menu options.  This place isn't just vegetarian-tolerant, it is downright friendly and the chef seems to embrace the idea of going beyond the expected in this type of cuisine.  A wide variety of dishes are marked as being vegetarian or vegan.  We start with the cheese dip which is not your typical electric orange stuff which echoes the artificiality of Velveeta.  No, this is a much less refined but far better tasting dip which seems to have a base of crema, cojita and roasted poblanos.  Honestly, I could have eaten it solo with a spoon.  The chips are equally nice being made onsite, and were still warm when I got them home.  Nothing here is what you would expect ... it is better.  The Empanadas are my favorites with light and fluffy exteriors which reminded me of french pastry.  The filling is fresh and tasty and the smoky creamy salsa very different than your typical offering.  A really nice balance of flavors with just a touch of heat.  The Taquitos were larger than expected, and there were four of them, so, yes, this could be a meal.  Again the presentation is unique.  They are stuffed with the well-seasoned potato, queso and poblano and served on top of the beans, with a side of spicy, tangy cabbage which is faintly reminiscent of Kimchi.  The soft tacos have multiple veggie options, unlike some other restaurants (I'm talking to you, Tortas y Tacos) including a surprise or two.  I simply had to try the Chile Relleno, which is, yes, an open Chile Relleno in a soft taco (so good ...)  The Crispy Masa Tofu Taco was equally delightful, with a great mix of ingredients.  The only problem was that there were so many stuffings that I could barely hold it closed to eat it.  As a kind of a dessert I got the Honey Roasted Plantains and Crema, which were plentiful, large and perfectly cooked, the salty crema blending well with the sweetness.  The price was right.  I got three meals' worth of food for $45 with tax and tip.  My one complaint is an odd one.  The Guacamole.  It wasn't bad but it wasn't great.  It just "was".  Avocado with some tomatoes, it had neither tang nor zip.  It seemed strange to me that a place which has a full page of mixed drinks wouldn't have a better guac, especially since everything else was outstanding, but I guess every restaurant has an Achilles Heel.  In any case, I loved this place and it is already on my list of "regulars" as we continue down this bizarre recovery path to normalcy.

A Fast Casual Mexican Fusion restaurant, with an emphasis on fun
4041 Campbell Ave, Arlington
https://www.tacoandpina.com/

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Afghan Bistro

With family members moving to Springfield, it has been a struggle to find good places to eat so far afield.  After flirting with some chain restaurants near the mall, we tried a Pakistani restaurant (there are many, many Pakistani restaurants there), but it fell flat.  Finally, someone suggested this amazing place.  It's a little hole-in-the-wall in a strip mall.  With oilcloth table coverings, the vibe seems questionable.  For about a minute.  Then you are warmly greeted and given menus with a plethora of choices.  My party ordered a great number of items and every dish rose above expectations.  The staff are eager to please and checked in to make sure everything was okay, from food to drink needs.  When a member of my party dropped a piece of silverware on the floor one of the waiters swooped in with a replacement before we could even ask.   But onto the food.  We ordered the Potato and Leek turnovers, the Aushak (leek and sc...
Post a Comment
Read more

First Watch

Meant to invite some family members here but a friend beat me to the punch.  We compromised and went together.  Unfortunately, this is a place where it looks better than it is.  Across the board.  The funky design scheme makes it an echo chamber and, with the pumping music, very loud.  Conversation was difficult.  The menu is covered in glossy photos and descriptions of the food but ... I started with the Morning Meditation Fresh Juice, a pretty blend of citrus and beet.  Or I tried to.  Took three reminders to the waiter and when it finally arrived, halfway into the meal, it was 90% ice and 10% juice.  My companions opted for coffee.  It was ice cold.  Another long wait (about 20 minutes) to get new coffee -- and included a reminder to staff that they wanted fresh cups as well.  I ordered the Vegetarian Quinoa Bowl, which was described as having up to 12 ingredients.  It had three.  The quinoa, an egg, maybe two teen...
Post a Comment
Read more

RASA

The popular grain bowl trend gets a twist with this Indian-inspired takeout bowl place.  Same concept -- a base, greens, toppings, etc., but the options are mostly Indian inspired and the majority of offerings are vegetarian (although not vegan, given the heavy use of Ghee in cooking).  My take is mixed.  Some of the items were outstanding, some less so.  I got the Lemon Tumeric Rice, which was delightful.  Fresh and tangy, with a little bite, it was one of the best rice dishes I've ever tried.  On top of this I got the Tofu/Cauliflower protein.  It was half and half.  The cauliflower was perfectly roasted, the roasted onions delightful, and the nuts were a beautiful added crunch.  The tofu, however, was watery, and the green and red peppers well past prime.  Next, I added sauteed spinach, which was incredibly bland, and the peanut sesame sauce, which was "okay" but forgettable.  I didn't do additional toppings, although there were ...
Post a Comment
Read more