Review: Street Tacos

The 1856 Bar and Grill street tacos, recommended by executive chef Armando Paniagua as a crowd favorite, are one of the few exceptions to my mild distaste for most Mexican cuisine. Specifically, the beef tacos have an agreeable combination of flavors and presentation that made me want to go back for more. From the moment the aesthetically pleasing dish was set on our table, I knew it would be a positive dining experience. Despite the fact that I am not a huge fan of salsa, cilantro, onions nor corn tortillas, the beautiful arrangement made my mouth water.

When the food finally reached my taste buds, I was not disappointed. Seasoned perfectly with a hint of spicy heat, the tender beef was my favorite part of the dish right off the bat. A couple bites further, I decided that the tangy salsa and generous portion of cilantro created a successful blend of savory seasoning and acidic sharpness. My sensitivity to tomato based foods caused the salsa to be almost overwhelming, but the tortillas effectively softened the tomatoey punch of flavor. While I am usually an active critic of corn tortillas (as opposed to flour based) I really appreciated the double layer of tortillas that, overall, added both positive flavor and stabilization to the tacos.

The dish may have been simple, but the selection of ingredients resulted in a delicious set of tacos. As I am not an avid taco eater myself, I cannot speak to how these beef street tacos compare to the average beef taco, but I would certainly recommend it to anyone searching for a safe pick off the 1856 Bar and Grill menu.