Bartaco (Last Brick Story)

New Restaurant 'Bartaco' Hits on Food and Decor, Misses on Service
Submitted by Jamie Wollberg on Fri, 04/08/2011 - 1:42am

Port Chester has a new restaurant in town that seems to be welcoming the same amount of traffic as the Hutch during rush hour. Bartaco, on 1 Willet Ave., serves cheap tacos in an untraditional way.

The restaurant front may not be appealing to the eyes, but the moment the doors open, there is a traffic jam of smells filling the air, much like the patrons that take over the large space. This place brings a seaside vibe to an upscale bar atmosphere with bold, sailor uniform colors.

Even though the dishes are tapas sized, they are delicious and filling.

Throughout the two rooms are wooden plank tables, photographs of summery images, and woven basket lights. The main room is centered around their long bar, which can get in the way of those trying to get to and from their tables.

The best part of the entire restaurant is the beautiful outdoor seating, which overlooks the water. There are numerous open tables with lounge seating, which are incredibly comfortable, thanks to the cushions that match the navy blue and white pinstriped walls.

Their unconventional print out menu lists dozens of dishes other than their tacos, which are $2.50 each, or three for $7. There are various tamales for $3 to $6 depending on size, or guacamole with chips for $5.

However, their soft tacos are the reason for eating there. Feast upon the soft and tender red snapper a la plancha, the Thai shrimp, or the melt in your mouth chicken al pastor. For beef eaters, there is a tamarind beef that will definitely spice up the meal.

No meal is complete without the crispy, and sugary churros that come with a bitter sweet chocolate sauce that will make the senses dance. For only $7 a pop, these are not only note worthy, but also a steal.

Unfortunately, the service is not as satisfying to the stomach, or the temper.

The negatives of this restaurant center around their unknowledgeable and forgetful staff. Though friendly, they not only had the order wrong, but our waiter was unable to identify the dishes served with any confidence, or not at all.

For a restaurant with the name bar in it, they have a major problem - the bartender clearly had no idea how to make a drink. The $10 Rosita may be the only drink worth diving into.

In the summer, this will probably be the place to be on a sunny and warm evening. But if the aesthetics of a restaurant or tapas don’t fit the bill, take your dollars elsewhere.