Daily Loaf

Archives | RSS

  |  

Friday, July 24, 2009

Restaurant News

Restaurant Preview: North Tampa's Taqueria Monterrey

Posted by on Fri, Jul 24, 2009 at 12:00 PM

click to enlarge al Pastor
  • The lady making the tortillas

Excited by Chef Rene Valenzuela's expansion of his empire, and because I 've been a taco zealot since CL's Tournament of Tacos in March, I ran right to Taqueria Monterrey on the first day open.

Taqueria Monterrey Day 1:  An artist is still painting signs on the walls.  He asks me to verify his spelling of the word 'Also' and says the design is inspired by old world Spain.

In keeping with CL's Beef Week, I ordered

Frijoles Charros
two barbacoa (stew beef, per the menu) tacos priced at $2.99 each. I do not recommend them; too gamey. They were traded for one carne asada and one al pastor which went down very easily, especially with fresh corn tortillas as the base.  There were chips and bell-pepper heavy salsa, and the salsa bar had large tubs of sliced red onion and fresh limes that made me happy.  The biggest surprise was the frijoles charros: pinto bean soup with pork.  Great comforting flavor and not over salted, but beware of bone pieces.  Choices for vegetarians included vegan chorizo and tofu.

taqm3pg1-225x300.jpg
I am a confessed Chef Rene groupie ("get in line" I was told) and am glad to have this choice for tacos nearer to me, but nothing will ever replace The Taco Bus.

Tags: , , , , , , ,

Comments (0)

Subscribe to this thread:
By Email
With RSS

Add a comment

Latest in Daily Loaf

See & Do May 25

In Music Events

Sunset Music Festival

In Food and Drink

24th annual Abilities Wine Tasting & Auction

Search Events

all events
concerts
restaurants
movie times

© 2013 SouthComm, Inc.
Powered by Foundation

Web Analytics