Friday, January 21, 2011

143 bar taco

I love bar taco. The same talented owners of Barcelona have done it again. "bar taco" in Port Chester is more than a restaurant. It's like going on an excursion while on vacation & stumbling upon a secret hideaway. As I entered, I was immediately taken to a warmer climate. The decor is so inventive with the handwoven baskets hanging from the ceiling, looking like overgrown groovy lampshades dangling above, each speckled with a lightbulb in it's center. The walls are covered in photographs that look like they were snapped on the beaches of Brazil. To the right, upholstered benches in white and navy blue, coordinating with benches on the outdoor deck, splattered with throws and pillows. There is an enormous aqua, turquoise & white painting, of a pristine beach, painted by Sasa (pronounced Sasha, one of the owners). The walls are painted Navy from the floor to waist level & then white from waist level to the ceiling; the drapes line up perfectly in the same color scheme. And that's just the decor.

Being the purist that I am, I immediately started with their signature margarita. It didn't disappoint. It was all things that it was supposed to be; refreshing & soothing, with a subtle smooth kick of tequila. The guacamole was rich, creamy and fresh. The chopped salad was made of the freshest ingredients, all chopped into the same size, which I love. But my favorite was the spicy beef stew with kaffir lime. It was the most delicious beef stew I've ever had. The broth was wonderfully seasoned & tasted exactly as a beef broth should taste. The beef was so tender & yet still full of flavor; the carrots were firm, yet soft; there were some charred onions & then the most surprisingly wonderful kick of the kaffir lime. One word: brilliant!

I highly recommend "bar taco". It is behind the "Willett House" and across from the movie theater & Cosco. :)