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Sit-Down Taco
South Beach Tex-Mex
Eatery Is Casual and Comfortable
Fish tacos are a favorite as are shrimp fajitas. Vegetarians are
not left out either.
 Taco
Rico: Counter service and table service. Photos by Camila Souza
By Samantha Smith
From hotel
accommodations to dining, South Beach is a land of extremes. But at
Taco Rico Tex Mex Café, located at 1608 Alton Road, a middle ground
does exist. Although patrons place their orders at the café counter,
they are immediately served a complimentary basket of tortilla
chips, plus their choice of one of six types of salsa: chunky, verde,
aji, Chipotle, pico de gallo or atomica. Servers also bring the food
orders directly to the inside and outside tables, so there is really
no need to get up after ordering, unless to get a beverage refill.
And Taco Rico offers daily specials, like a Chicken Chipotle Pasta.
 Still,
Taco Rico’s pricing is very moderate. A single hard taco will run
you $1.09 and the most expensive item, the Churrasco Special, is a
mere $10.99 for lunch and $13.99 for dinner. Taco Rico opens bright
and early at 8 a.m. and serves breakfast until 10:30 a.m. Lunch
specials are served from 10:30 a.m. until 4 p.m. and range in price
from $4.99 to $6.29. The café’s signature dish is the Ultra Wet
Burrito. Smothered in enchilada sauce and melted cheese, it comes in
two sizes; be prepared if you dare go for the bigger one, which
measures up at about 14 inches.
Everything here,
from chips to corn chowder, is made from scratch and using fresh
ingredients, according to Lee Neal, the company’s president and
owner. Fish tacos are a favorite as are shrimp fajitas. Vegetarians
are not left out either. Taco Rico offers veggie options for most
dishes.
After being open
for only a few months (the grand opening was on Sept. 25), Neal is
happy with the results and looks forward to a bright future. “At our
Gables location [which has been open for 15 years], we know everyone
by name and we want to create that same atmosphere here,” he said.
Taco Rico is not
without its extreme touches. Take the decadent fried ice cream; yes,
they actually fry the dessert, which is coated in bran flakes and
coconut, for exactly five minutes, placed on a sopapilla (pastry)
and topped with chocolate. Your taste buds will love you but your
thighs won’t. Cravings can be satisfied until 11 p.m. daily or
midnight on weekends.
Call 305-535-5757
or visit
www.ezpress.com/tacoricotexmex.htm. |
