Not your usual “chips and salsa” Tex-Mex joint, Twisted Taco (Midtown, at 66 12th Street) is a warm, welcoming neighborhood restaurant with something of a split personality.
In the early evening — when Clyde and I are likely to snag an upstairs table — Twisted Taco is all but deserted. That doesn’t bother me, though, because I’m not there to make friends … I’m there for food. Here, the requisite basket of chips arrives with three kinds of salsa — green, red, and “smoked.” Instead of the ubiquitous melted white cheddar, the queso recipe includes a snappy dash of colby jack. And the margaritas — there are more than fifteen on the menu — are mighty tasty, particularly the pomegranate, which has become a personal favorite.
The tacos are, as the name of the place suggests, pretty twisted. Forget those “heat and eat” Ortega taco shells packed with greasy ground beef! Last night, I feasted on the Greek (hot strips of grilled lamb with lamb, onions, and creamy tzatziki sauce) and the chicken parm (breaded chicken, marinara, parm cheese). I’ve also tried the Baja (grouper with cabbage, cilantro, tomato, and onion) and the Wyatt Earp (roasted pork and lime). All were very good — and reasonably affordable, at between $2.00 and $2.50 per soft taco.
Clyde made short work of his OK Corral burrito (grilled chicken plus every veggie and sauce you can think of) last night … and, in a previous visit, I polished off a heaping plate of the Garbage Nachos (with ground beef, chicken, pork, veggies, cheese, sauce … you get the idea).
Good news: it’s all good, and, as yet, not one dish has disappointed me.
Later in the evening, the Twisted Taco’s personality changes — in short, things get rowdier. This happens about 8:00 p.m., when a younger, noisier, harder-drinkin’ crowd shows up for the trivia contests and comedy nights that likely keep the doors open for the rest of us. It’s not my scene — but I’m thankful for it, as it subsidizes my tasty, virtually private 6:00 p.m. dinners with Clyde and friends.
Tip: dining upstairs? Check out the funky mural; the cowboys pictured there are, by design, identical twins of the owners of the place.
Add comment