I think my favorite exchange of the evening was Maureen pointing to the taco on her plate and the following conversation with our server.
“I mean, that’s smut, right? Definitely smut. I know smut when I see it!”
She was, of course, referring to the huitlacoche filling of her taco as she and our server attempted to identify it.
Huitlacoche, also known as “corn smut” or “Mexican truffles,” doesn’t sound that appetizing, but it’s actually something you shouldn’t pass up. We were skeptical when we first tried it at La Mexicana in Newport, but Kenji from Serious Eats convinced us when he came to visit. David, in particular, was enamored with it.
Huitlacoche, also known as “corn smut” or “Mexican truffles,” doesn’t sound that appetizing, but it’s actually something you shouldn’t pass up. We were skeptical when we first tried it at La Mexicana in Newport, but Kenji from Serious Eats convinced us when he came to visit. David, in particular, was enamored with it.
generous pile of smut
So when he saw the Bakersfield menu, he was excited to see that it was an option. And with the incentive to share a meal with lots of good friends, we couldn’t pass up a visit opening night.
I know that there was a soft opening at some point, and as opening nights for restaurants go, I thought it went pretty well. There were a few dropped glasses, and the space, much like Senate, is long and a little narrow, which can cause some traffic jams. We also had some order mix-ups, but they were easily and quickly corrected.
Bootylicious
Though they were pretty busy, the service kept up fairly well, and most of the tacos were outstanding. The green and red salsas on the table were both great, and had a nice amount of flavor and heat. Guacamole was fresh, and queso and chips were also good, though next time we’ll order them with chorizo. The house-made tortillas on the tacos definitely take them up a notch.
My premium margarita was delicious, though pricey at $12, and the house margarita (a much more affordable $6) was also good. The sangria pitcher ($20) was a great deal, made with rosé and brandy, and I’d definitely get it again.
After much discussion, and having tried almost all the tacos on the menu, we rank our selections as:
1. Fish taco
2. Huitlacoche
3. Cochinita Pibil
4. Short Rib
5. Pastor
There’s also another salsa in the back, which you can ask for if you’re feeling bold. It’s habanero, and it is also on the cochinita pibil taco. I can tell you from experience, it’s not messing around.
And don't forget the pickled jalapeno's.
ReplyDeleteI may not a lot of things, but I do know my smut. *curtseys *
ReplyDeleteBeautiful pictures. I'm curious, however, about your take on their GM in the Premium Margarita. Those are, as you know, two of my favorite liquids, but I'm kind of the school that ne'er the twain shall meet. Did it overpower? Esp with the Contreau already included.
ReplyDelete$4 for a taco. Are they worth it compared to a $2.25 taco at Taqueria Mexicano or at La Mexicana? Seems like everything at these OTR restaurants is expensive.
ReplyDeleteHi Sheila,
ReplyDeleteA few of the tacos were $4, but most were a dollar cheaper. I don't think I could compare the two-I love Taqueria Mercado for its simple, more traditional tacos, but I appreciated the spin Bakersfield does as well.
I agree with you that OTR can sometimes be pricey, but our bill at Bakersfield was much better than I expected and it was certainly not Senate damage. I think if you are in OTR, you should definitely give it a try, at least once. If you don't like it, I'm sure we'll run into you at TM--we're there once a week, it seems. We do love our tacos.
At least from what we can see of the beer list, it is short, but nice.
ReplyDeleteSo glad I convinced you to try the huitlacoche. one of my favorite taco fillings!
ReplyDeleteI grew up farm and picked corn all summer long. There were always occasional ears of corn with smut. The stuff is nasty looking, and my cousins always swore it was poisonous. Can't imagine eating it, but then again, we ate giant puffball fungi.
ReplyDelete