THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Tacos & Tequila Awards

THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Tacos & Tequila Restaurant Review:

It probably didn’t take any focus groups to determine the perfect concept restaurant for Austin: a place serving quality tacos and premium tequila. Diners outside the region who visualize crispy shells with ground meat, shredded lettuce and cheddar when they hear the word “taco” likely can’t comprehend it as a culinary art form. Case in point: plump shrimp rubbed in perky recado rojo (a traditional Mayan spice blend) and sriracha-orange glaze served on soft homemade tortilla with jícama slaw, guajillo mayo and mango relish. Music and indie art films, along with reasonable prices, attract a young fun-loving crowd that appreciates the finer things in life, like a flight of ultra-premium tequila or fresh guacamole made to order from a tableside cart, which includes optional accoutrements like caramelized onions and chipotle chiles. Yet the soft taco remains the focal point. Probably the wisest menu selection is the three-taco platter. While the seared ahi and chimichurri tenderloin tacos stand out, don’t pass up the corn-crusted chicken with roasted coriander and pickled red onions. Of special note is TNT’s commitment to community, donating a fair share of sales to local charities.