Happy Monday my loves. I really vote that we should have three day weekends every week. All day Saturday I kept on thinking it was Sunday and then I realized I had another day of being able to catch up…..it was absolutely glorious. So I actually have a fun weekending update because we got out of the house and were social on Friday night. We have been so guilty lately of working like crazy all week, then just vegging and hibernating on the weekend. Or the total extreme of that and jet setting away to a fabulous city. No real in between, so this weekend was a great touch of both. Linking up with B for a weekending update.
Bartaco Tampa Reviews
Hyde Park in Tampa is one of my favorite places in the city. When I first moved here, it was at the downturn of the big economy bubble and there were a lot of vacant spots. Now, it is completely hustling and huge renovations are underway. Some great well known brands are already in there such as Lululemon, Sur la Table, and Sprinkles Cupcakes just moved in. One of the most gorgeous new restaurants that is taking over the area is Bartaco. I had read about it when it first opened but we never got a chance to check it well. We finally coordinated and headed there on Friday. What I first noticed and loved about it was the outdoor space. I’m all about outdoor eating if the weather permits. There are cool lounge areas and a bustling outdoor bar.
The indoor space though, isn’t it gorgeous? I really wish we came for lunch so you could see all the details because trying to snap pics at night in a fully stocked restaurant is challenging but I hope you can appreciate how cool it is inside.
We were seated at a table in the middle of it all. We had an adorable and very sweet waitress Mckenzie. She explained how it all works. You order your tacos kind of like sushi style with a pencil on the menu, when you are ready pop your card up and they will swing back by. I loved the vibe inside and the music was on point. Many times Mark and I would just start to sing along with the tunes. It had such a beauty California vibe to it, in the middle of the city. Let’s talk about the details. I am not a big cocktail person and usually prefer a glass of wine but I ventured out after reading the menu. I am not exaggerating when I say, the best drinks I’ve ever had. I had the Port Chester Reviver and Mark had a Margarita (which he never orders btw). You could tell the quality of the liquor (the house tequila is Campo Azul) and there was a perfect harmony of liquor to fresh squeezed juice. Mine had a hint of cucumber in it. I seriously could have had ten of them. The second round Mark had the Sanguina and I had a fresh squeezed Watermelon jalepeno margarita, thank you Mckenzie for that suggestion because it was delicious.
The chips, salsa, and guac were the perfect start. Just about every single time I order guac, I have to doctor it up myself. More lime, some hot sauce, and more salt. This was perfection with just enough heat. Didn’t need a thing and the salsa was a perfect balance.
Onto the food menu. We were warned that the tacos were small so order a few, which we did. Even with being small, they were so flavorful. We actually ordered the duck, which I have never ordered duck out. They were so good, we ordered another round. They were smoky with the perfect amount of heat. Make sure if you go, you have to order the #bartacosecret. It was lobster and so dang good. Big fresh hunks of lobster in them with a hominy and brown butter sauce. It was one of my favorite tacos up there with the duck. Mark also ordered a bowl which was our favorite part of the meal. Fresh veggies, tender ribeye steak and brown rice. I would seriously eat that every single night of my life.
I will say that we are pretty hard to impress when it comes to eating out. We cook a lot at home, we have a fully stocked wine fridge, and close proximity to the couch. We were throughly impressed with Bartaco in Tampa. Even Mark who is quite the critic asked when we could come back again. For all my local peeps, I highly recommend you check it out and make sure to order the secret taco, #bartacosecret. This is such a great gem in Tampa. We had the opportunity to speak with the managers and they are extremely passionate about the restaurant and it shows. I am so happy to see Hyde Park booming with all the restaurants and nightlife. Bartaco is a great staple in Hyde Park and I can’t wait to head back.
Thank you to Bartaco for hosting us for the night out! They also have restaurant locations in Connecticut, Atlanta, Nashville, NY, and Virginia. I highly recommend you check them out if you are local to one! I hope you liked my Bartaco Tampa Reviews!
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Love their outside dining area and that cocktail would be right up Gary’s alley with the spice factor! xo, biana –BlovedBoston
this is on my must eat places and I have to go soon! Blaire went this weekend and loved it!
Xoxo,
Whitney & Blaire
Peaches In A Pod
Watermelon Jalapeño Marg? Yes please! I could totally get down with that ;)
We love Bartaco! Always a cool space and the food is delicious. They make a mean jalapeño margarita!
What a fun looking place! Glad you enjoyed!
First of all, love your dress! The ambiance of that place looks so fun & relaxed. The food looks amazing too.
1. I feel you on the crazy work schedule and applaud you for finding the middle this weekend.
2. That dress is phenomenal on you! Very flattering!
3. My stomach is still rumbling from seeing this food. Delish.
Bartaco is one of my favorite spots! I am obsessed with their pork belly taco and guac :) So glad you got to try it out!
Love the dress you are wearing in these pictures!!
http://www.amemoryofus.com
Bartaco is on our list of places to try before we leave Atlanta. We have kids with us, thoughts on that?
What a fun place, it all sounds so good and those tacos look absolutely delicious. I love a thorough review, and you’re always great at that. I’ll have to check this place out next time we’re in Tampa!
The food looks so good! I’m going down to FL for Thanksgiving this year so hopefully I’ll have time to try this place out.
I vote for three day weekends every week too!!!! Love the dress! This place looks so awesome! I love anywhere that has guac and tacos.
This place looks amazing! I love how you captured all the details. I will tell my friend that lives there to check it out! All the food and drinks look delicious. And you look so cute in that off the shoulder dress. I love that pic of you in it standing at the bar, so gorgeous!
I am all for the 3 day weekend, you feel so much more refreshed and actually have time to get things done and relax! Such a cute spot, and I must say that I absolutely LOVE the dragonfly emblem <3
Green Fashionista
do people just stop and stare at you when you’re out because you have such great style?!?! I know I would! This food looks absolutely delicious.
What! This looks amazing. Glad you had a great weekend!
The food looks so yummy! I’ll have to check it out next time I am in Tampa! Love your dress too!!
<3 Shannon
You just made me super hungry for tacos…at 10:00 PM. Street tacos are my absolute favorite, especially fish tacos. That place looks fun and the cocktails sound delish!
omg quality mexican food is what i’m missing here in London! THIS LOOKS EPIC!… let’s have a few margaritas, shall we?
I live pretty close to the Bartaco in CT! It’s so much fun, and the aesthetic is on point. Yours has a much nicer looking outdoor area though. Next time you go try the mojito if you like those. Easily the best mojito I’ve EVER had.
Danielle @ afloat on a full sea
My husband and I are guilty of the same thing. Lately, it’s been nothing but work and trying to catch a breath on the weekends by not doing much haha. It’s so nice to actually get out of the house. This place looks lovely, really loving your dress, too!
Paula
Thirteen Thoughts
I had BarTaco in Nashville and while it was great, I wasn’t overly impressed. I did really like the vibe, the whole indoor/outdoor feel and the tacos were pretty tasty but nothing amazing in my opinion. We also went when it was INSANELY busy so I was a bit flustered, I think! In other news. I LOVE your outfit from that night. So darn cute!
I’m not kidding when I say I could eat tacos every single day of my life! lol Why oh why did I read this so close to lunch time. (; For real, we need more taco joints around here!
I’m skeptical of all Mexican food served outside of TX or CA but I saw your snaps and even I would try this!
haha i love when i get saturday and sunday mixed up and it feels like an extra day! though i’m with you, i would be down for 3 day weekends please!
hmm we are thinking of taking a nashville trip in the next few months, so i will keep an eye out for the one there! all the food looks amazing, and your dress is gorgeous!
First of all – I’m starving and this made it worse! I love me some Mexican!!! And yahoo – there’s one in Atlanta so maybe when we venture in the city we can check it out!!!
Your weekends always make me lowkey jealous. This looks like my kind of place!
I really need to venture down to Hyde Park more often. This place looks great!