Taco Bar "fried chicken"??

[willie]

What's up with the chicken tacos at The Taco Bar? I ordered one Sunday night, and it came with one fried chicken strip on it.

[seacrestkristi]

I hate when that happens. ...and how much did you pay for that strip:doh: Never been to the place. Just can't bring myself to pay for chips and salsa. That's just too foreign to lil ole cheap me. The chips are free and overflowing with refills if you want where we get our Mexican food, from Mexicans.
People work too hard just to vacation in sowal much less get taken like that(unless it was a huge strip, of course)at your meal out. Some peope, single parents, young families mostly, only have budgeted one meal out while on vacation if that. I hope that wasn't it buddy. ;-) :wub:

[groveral]

I have read many positive posts on this new Mexican Taco restaurant, but my one experience was a steak taco and I could not believe how little meat. I wish them well and want them to succeed. We desperately need more causal fare---but, for me, not at any cost.

[scooterbug44]

Free chips and salsa at an open air restaurant in the middle of Seaside is not a viable business plan. I'm not in the restaurant business and I can see the $$ adding up as it becomes the new free beach lunch/predinner appetizer/kid's meal of choice.

Most of the items on the menu are less than the price of a drink almost anywhere in Sowal (and close to the price of a gallon of gas), so if that's what they budgeted for as their one meal out, they need a reality check!

What did they say when you told them you only got one chicken strip in your taco? Is that the standard portion or did they give you more when you told them and they realized you got shortchanged?

[Smiling JOe]

I'm not sure if your comment is more targeting getting a piece of "fried chicken" or getting only one piece of chicken.

I will say that the tacos, are not supposed to be super-size tacos like one might find at TacoHell. They are smaller, 5" shells, and if the piece of chicken has any size to it, one piece would be all I'd expect, especially if it was going to have any slaw or guac with it on the taco. Anymore, and it wouldn't fit into the taco, or my mouth.

[steele mama]

The Mexican Tacos at the Taqueria El Campano on 331 are small too but the tastiest things I've ever had. 3 for $5 and chips and salsa are free. It's not on the beach however, but convenient when you are on your way home! :wub: it!

[Lady D]

Most of the Mexican restaurants around here bring bowls of chips and salsa to the table to munch on before meals. And we do not get charged for the chips and salsa.

[scooterbug44]

Most of the Mexican restaurants around here bring bowls of chips and salsa to the table to munch on before meals. And we do not get charged for the chips and salsa.

Because of its location/setup, free chips & salsa at the Taco Bar would turn it from a taco stand to a free chip dispenser for the general population. There isn't a waiter to bring you chips and take your order, you place the order/pay at the counter and then they bring it to you. If it was an enclosed restaurant w/ waiters I'd expect free chips, but not the way this is set up.

[seacrestkristi]

The Mexican Tacos at the Taqueria El Campano on 331 are small too but the tastiest things I've ever had. 3 for $5 and chips and salsa are free. It's not on the beach however, but convenient when you are on your way home! :wub: it!
I :wub: this place too, steele mama. Quiet, cool, and good food without breaking the budget.:cool:

[Beach Runner]

I'm on Dave's side on this one. Granted, one chicken strip is too little. That was probably a mistake. But as far as chips and salsa go, paying extra for the non-Sysco ones at a pseudo-real taqueria is not unusual (again, I'm using Taqueria Del Sol in downtown Atlanta as my model). You're basically paying à la carte at a place like that; i.e., you pay by the item. The typical Tex-Mex restaurant charges more for an entrée by adding in the greasy refried beans and rice which are like the parsley at a tacky restaurant that most people don't eat. Dave's restaurant reminds me of the Spanish tapas restaurant model -- you pay per item rather than for a plateful of stuff, some of which you don't want. It's just a concept that isn't in the realm of what many people are accustomed to with their Tex-Mex.

And remember, Dave has a boatload of fixed overhead that the place on 331 north of the bridge (which I place to try out this weekend ;-) ) has.

[Smiling JOe]

I, too, use to often dine at a great Taco Stand, and chips were always extra, but you could buy combos, such as two tacos, chips and drink for $6+. I would like to see a small handfull of chips come if you order two or more tacos, but I think many people, especially kids would be coming for free chips all the time. Seaside is much different than most other Mexican restaurants. You pay to be in Seaside. The place on 331 doesn't even appear to have more than two windows. It might be cheaper than the Taco Bar, but it is out of the way for most people, and there is no view, even if you are in front of a window.

[TreeFrog]

Prejudiced viewpoint:

1-Driving from Seagrove to Freeport and back adds an hour to my meal
2-Driving from Seagrove to Freeport and back adds $4 worth of gas to my meal, not to mention insurance, oil changes, etc.
3-For crying out loud, it's Seaside. Everything's cheaper somewhere else.
4-Dave spent a lot of bucks to be there. He can't sell tacos cheap and make a profit.



But back to the original complaint, which was fair. If the taco isn't good, take it back, don't just eat it. The last chicken tacos I had there were grilled. I'd take it back if they gave me a fried chicken strip.

[willie]

I like the Taco Bar and don't mind the prices given the location. It's a great addition to Seaside. I've just never been served a taco with a piece of fried chicken on it. Size was not the issue. It was big piece of chicken, just like a chicken finger. The first time I ate there it was not fried, so I was surprised. The steak taco was good. Wish I'd just ordered steak tacos...and I'll do that next time.

[TreeFrog]

Willie:

I think you should have gotten grilled chicken - sounds like someone in the kitchen was taking liberties.

After trying them all, the shrimp is my fave. And Dave bumped it up to 4 shrimp after feedback from SoWal.

[Beach Runner]

Fusion (e.g., fried chicken tacos with turnip greens) is what Dave was referring to in the other thread regarding Taco Bar as opposed to the popular Taqueria Del Sol in Atlanta. Dave is trying to be more authentic, and I respect that. However, I love the fried chicken tacos with lime-jalapeño mayonnaise and a side of turnip greens at TDS! Check out http://www.taqueriadelsol.com/ for the accolades. What I'm saying is that a fried chicken taco can be awesome, not a mistake.

[seacrestkristi]

I :wub: rice and beans.

[Beach Runner]

I :wub: rice and beans.
I love good rice and beans (like the ones I make), too! But most Tex-Mex restaurants that I've experienced have more lard in the beans than beans.

[JB]

Because of its location/setup, free chips & salsa at the Taco Bar would turn it from a taco stand to a free chip dispenser for the general population. There isn't a waiter to bring you chips and take your order, you place the order/pay at the counter and then they bring it to you. If it was an enclosed restaurant w/ waiters I'd expect free chips, but not the way this is set up.

I agree they should not be free. Not realistic considering the location/overhead. But I DO think $4 is pretty steep for what amounts to 15 chips and three ounces of salsa. The owner deflects criticism of the price by saying the chips are "homemade." Do they actually grind corn and manufacture the chips on site? I doubt it. I'm guessing they buy the chips from Sysco and throw them in the fryer for a few seconds.

The place will do well because of where it's located. Plenty of traffic to keep it going. But IMO, I don't think they will get a great many repeat customers.

[Dave Rauschkolb]

Hello all and thanks for the good comments and critical ones too. I have not been reading posts for a while so sorry for the late response.

We changed the roast chicken taco to the lightly fried chicken taco a while back because we thought is would have a broader appeal for adults and children. A lot of parents wanted something thier children would like and everyone likes fried chicken. At the time we did not have any kids items however two weeks ago we added kid's tacos (plain anything with cheese) and I had chef Reese switch back to the roasted chicken taco, my personal favorite besides the homemade chorizo sausage one. As for gettting shorted on the chicken I can only say I am sorry you got a smaller portion than usual. I think you will find the portions are very good.

We also have burritos now including an awsome breakfast burrito!

Also, in response to comments on Sowal and elseware, we are now giving free refills on chips & salsa after initial purchase. Happy summer!

Dave

[Beachlover2]

:clap: :clap: :clap:

Thank you Dave - and Thank you Sowal!!!!

[Smiling JOe]

Also, in response to comments on Sowal and elseware, we are now giving free refills on chips & salsa after initial purchase. Happy summer!

Dave
I think the public will be happy. :D

[wallymom]

We tried the Taco Bar for the first time this week, after reading all the great posts. While the atmosphere was very fun and festive, we were a little dissapointed in the food...mostly because it was cold. The rice and beans were very cold so they tasted a little odd.

Is all the food supposed to be cold, or was this just a fluke?

[Hop]

Hello all and thanks for the good comments and critical ones too. I have not been reading posts for a while so sorry for the late response.

We changed the roast chicken taco to the lightly fried chicken taco a while back because we thought is would have a broader appeal for adults and children. A lot of parents wanted something thier children would like and everyone likes fried chicken. At the time we did not have any kids items however two weeks ago we added kid's tacos (plain anything with cheese) and I had chef Reese switch back to the roasted chicken taco, my personal favorite besides the homemade chorizo sausage one. As for gettting shorted on the chicken I can only say I am sorry you got a smaller portion than usual. I think you will find the portions are very good.

We also have burritos now including an awsome breakfast burrito!

Also, in response to comments on Sowal and elseware, we are now giving free refills on chips & salsa after initial purchase. Happy summer!

Dave

what a great owner...thanks Dave...

[scottalderson]

all restaurants are in constant evolution, especially in the infant stages. bud and alley's today bears no resemblance of it's humble beginnings and the new taco bar has already flowed with the natural growth and progressions as one would expect. as a career restaurant dude, i can say that dave's new taco gig is great - will get better - and brilliantly fills a void in the SEASIDE quick eats scene. everytime i walk by the taco bar (which is often on my way to the tarpon club) i nod in professional pride for dave at the efficient and creative use of such a small space and and it's guaranteed success. rock on rausch!!