Critic's Review
Taco Tuesday and not a lot of good choices; tacos around here are just stuff on a flour tortilla, so not really something I seek out. Tacocraft is the latest idea from bandwagon visionary Mark Falsetto, who previously ran the short-lived Rok:Brgr mini chain. He's partnered with one of the Anthony's CFP owners to open lots of big taco joints throughout South Florida. I'd tried their now defunct location on 2nd Street and didn't like 1 thing I had, so my expectations were rock bottom.
I contemplated eating in, but since it was Taco Tuesday I thought there may be too many cretins and families present, so I opted to order online. Tacos are all $3 on Tuesday, and I wouldn't have to pay $3.50 for a glass of colored water (or tip a grumpy waitress).
This place copies the green theme of the original copycats, El Camino; this place is more El Camino than Rocco's Tacos in that their menu is basically tacos and more tacos.
I ordered 3 tacos; different from the ones I hated from their other location.
Given the times we live in, take out is a big deal. They have an entire counter set up just for take out. I had to remember which alias I used and hoped I didnt need ID; my order was ready so I just grabbed it and scampered off; not having to interact with a single human being in the process.
Straight home so the tacos were still fresh and hot; maybe a 5 minute trip.
Tacos here are stuff on a mini tortilla. I started with the "Korean Short Rib"
Nothing about the description of this item was true. The cucumbers weren't pickled, the sauce wasn't spicy, and this was more flank steak than short rib; if it was short rib it needed another 12 hours in the crock pot. Tough meat, completely flavorless. A complete failure of what this was supposed to be.
Onto the crispy chicken. Chicken nuggets, jalapenos strait from a big jar and a non-existent "spicy mayo". I'd asked for the "hot honey" on the side, because I didn't know if it was spicy hot or temperature hot; and I'm not a big sweet sauce fan.
I tried a nugget on it's own and with some honey. Not bad on it's own, but it made no sense as a taco. Even the jalapenos weren't that spicy.
Chicken nuggets on a taco shell. How did they come up with this idea?
Next was the crisply shrimp.
Again with the unspicy mayo; this was easily the best of the 3; the tempura shrimp were good.
Something to note however is that the "regular" tacos have 4 shrimp (based on pictures online); on Taco Tuesday you only get 2. So "Taco Tuesday" is 1/2 a taco for 1/2 price. Same goes for the "short rib".
Conclusion
For $9 I got a decent amount of food, but these things don't remind me of real Mexican food in any way. Largely tasteless food on a Taco Shell. There's nothing here I'd ever pay full price for.
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Tacocraft has moved to a bigger space in the location formerly occupied by the Midici. You can see the review of their original location here.
They've adopted the same hideous light green color scheme as El Camino; make no mistake; this is an El Camino wannabe restaurant.
Unlike Rocco's, which offers a full Mexican menu; this is Tacos, Fajitas and Chips and guacamole. They've added a blackened chicken dish and grouper; I promise I'll never order grouper at a TacoCraft (or anywhere else). Note that boneless chickens are usually rotisserie size; de-boning bigger chickens is too challenging for your average line cook.
I have 2 observations about this place. First, why would I want to come here to eat? They just have tacos; I'm not a big boozer. And the Tacos I've had from their other location sucked. Second is why would anyone want to go to the Brass Tap to drink? Now that there's a cooler bar across the street; you have to wonder how the Brass Tap can survive as much more than a doggie park.
You'll still have to go to Jalisco to get real Mexican Food
We have the full menu.
Why would anyone pay $13-$14 for a meatless salad here when you can get a fantastic Mexican salad loaded with chicken across the street for $8.25? Are people really that dumb? It's not like this is superior food.