This Taco y Vino Restaurant Review is an extended version of a new “Dinner and a Show” column I’m writing in partnership with Metropolitan Arts Media, Inc., the nonprofit organization that runs arts journalism sites TheaterJones.com (performing arts) and the forthcoming ContextDFW.com (visual art) in Dallas/Fort Worth.
Taco y Vino Restaurant Review
Pairing upscale street tacos with wine in a cozy craftsman home, Taco y Vino – a newer addition to the Bishop Arts restaurant lineup in Dallas, Texas – is a great spot to grab a meal and a drink. If you aren’t in a rush, it’s also a comfortable place to linger for a while.
Tucked away from the busy beaten path of Davis St., Taco y Vino has transformed this 1940s Oak Cliff home into a quaint, casual restaurant and wine bar. Adding to the allure are the original wood floors, an entire wall covered in a wavy display of wine bottles and the record player by the bar, where the barkeep doubles as vinyl DJ.
Most important, of course, is the food. Or, perhaps, the wine. There’s no need to debate this because both hit the mark and offer something for everyone. And if you aren’t a wine lover, there are local beers on tap and non-alcoholic beverages as well. They also keep each table well-supplied with water.
Pictured above (left to right) are the Blackened Baja taco (a catfish taco – my second favorite), the Vegan Chorizo taco (a special replacing the regular Jackfruit taco at the time I visited) and the Fried Avocado taco (my favorite).
The Fried Avocado taco is filled with avocado that has been lightly seasoned and dipped in panko crumbs and topped with tomatoes, cilantro, roja aioli and pickled onions. The avocado was slightly crispy on the outside and maintained its form, shape and texture on the inside. In other words, it didn’t get mushy like I feared it might. My second favorite was the Blackened Baja tacos (catfish tacos). The flavor of the seasoned, blackened catfish paired well with the chipotle aioli, tomatoes and pickled onions on top.
At first glance, the Taco y Vino menu is relatively simple, with a few appetizers, a couple desserts and, for the main course, your choice of 8 tacos. You can mix and match these at 3 tacos for $9.50. If enchiladas are your jam, you can order any taco option as an enchilada at $6.25 each. Also, check the board or ask your server for specials.
Two of the eight taco options are vegetarian and all are made with corn tortillas, so friends and family with gluten issues have ample choices here. If, like me, dairy is your foe, it’s easy enough to leave the crema and/or queso off any taco.
Pictured above are: the Fried Avocado taco (did I mention it was my favorite?), the Cochinita Pibil and the Blackened Baja – all without any cheese or crema, thanks to my dairy allergy, which they were friendly about accommodating. They even brought me the aioli on the side, just in case. These non-dairy versions aren’t as pretty as the standard ones, but they were still filled with plenty of flavor!
The Cochinita Pibil taco is made with a generous portion of tender pulled pork braised in pineapple and topped with cabbage, carrots, queso fresco and pickled onions.
For an appetizer, I wanted to try the ceviche, but they were out. My disappointment was short-lived because I ordered the tortilla soup instead. Made with the chicken tinga broth (chicken tinga tacos are on the taco menu), it’s a generous bowl of hot soup with plenty of chicken, veggies and rice topped with avocado and a sprinkling of chips. Not only is it delicious, but its salty broth soothed the sore throat I had at the time and was enough for a full meal by itself. I took half of it to go so that I would have room for what I came for — tacos! A small cup of the soup, in my opinion, would be a great addition to the appetizer menu.
Taco y Vino’s wine list isn’t extensive, but it’s well-crafted with a great selection by glass and bottle. I ordered (and loved) a glass of the house tempranillo ($8)
I visited twice — once for lunch on a Friday; another for lunch on a Saturday. My service experience was a little different each time, probably because my first server was working solo as barkeep, waiter and vinyl DJ and my server during the second visit had some help. Both were friendly and attentive enough, but during the first visit, my server didn’t tell me about any specials and never brought me the three hot sauces I learned about during my second visit. So if you go and they don’t offer up either, just ask.
Caution to my fellow coffee lovers: there’s a French press coffee on the menu, but don’t get your hopes up. They don’t carry it. I wish they would … or take it off the menu. It’s not nice to tease us java enthusiasts like that!
Go for the tacos, and stay for the wine. Or go for the wine, and stay for the tacos. Either way, you can’t go wrong with this welcome addition to the Bishop Arts District.
Address:
213 W Eighth St, Dallas, TX 75208
Website:
Hi! Saw the column over on Theater Jones – for the versions published there, could we also get a mention whether the restaurant will work with you to get meals that will get you to the show on-time?
Good idea. I didn’t think of it with this one because the food came out quickly, but will definitely mention if that will be a concern with others. Thank you! – Kelly