Ottawa Foodies

1

With Matthew Carmicheal opening up a taco place, maybe tacolot guys are trying to rid the popularity.. But first criteria need to be good food.

2

We all know: "The Emperor wears no clothes".

When will they discover: "The Hipster eats no taco(lot)" ?
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"I so wish they would get it right before they expand."

A Captain Caper Prediction:

TacoLot is expanding to a (non-hipster) low foot-traffic spot (Gladstone and Bronson).

Belly up during the first (or second winter)...
... unless the offerings change dramatically and thus draw in the 'destination customer'.

(What's a destination customer ?. Art-is-In counts on most of it's retail business from 'destination customers' ..ones that make Art-is-In a destination (usually by car) and not just a walk-by or neighborhood shop etc.)

5

I so wish they would get it right before they expand.

TacoLot is expanding.

www.ottawacitizen.com

Thoughts?

8

Wow! I don't remember the last time I was treated as badly as I was at TacoLot! My two children and I walked from our home on Edison Avenue, excited to try this new place. After walking several kms, we had worked up an appetite. My youngest daughter, who is 8, is a vegetarian. I asked them if they could make a cheese quesadilla for her. They said no...they only have tacos. I asked if they had soft tacos, they said yes. I asked if they had cheese, they said yes. So, i asked them to make a cheese taco. The girl at the front asked the girl at the back if she could do that. She said no - it's not on the menu. I said I realize that, I'm just asking you to leave the meat off of the taco. She said 'our tacos also come with salsa'. I said, fine, please leave the salsa off. She said 'if I make it, I am going to charge you the same as a taco with meat'. I asked how much. She said ''$5.00". I asked if she really planned to charge me the same amount as if there was meat. She said 'look, I can't just change the menu for you, we don't make cheese tacos'. So, she lost out on three orders as she was unwilling to serve us.

We walked across the street to the Hintonburger. Again, there was nothing my vegetarian daughter would eat (she doesn't like falafel), so we asked if they could make her a grilled cheese. The girl asked the cook, who said 'sure...is $2.00 okay?'. She got her grilled cheese, and loved it - it was made with real cheddar, not processed. My other daughter got the Hintonburger and I got the Falafel burger. We had fries and a drink...all for under $20.00. When we left, we were told to have a nice day not once, but twice!!!!

So, if you are thinking of going to TacoLot, do yourself a huge favour, and cross the street to the Hintonburger!!!!

2

Fish taco.. meh. It was 'ok', had the pork as well. Very much so not worth the money.

I've been 3 times now. First when they opened, chicken and beef were terribly and horribly dry. Like dust. Figured ah its the first day.

Went again a couple weeks ago, still dry, still no real taste, and very quickly soggy. I'd pay the money if the food had taste. Sorely disappointed. The drinks the Jarritos mexican sodas, are good. But really.. the point is the food. Which they haven't figured out.

Stopped by today because Carmichael was there doing fish tacos.. could have been more than the fish stick in a taco really...

ps. of note, they just use store-bought rubbish taco shells...

3

We were refered here by another Ottawa Foodie who really enjoys this place. Obviously I should have read the rewiews of TacoLot on here before we went because I have to say I haven't been this dissapointed in a meal in a LONG time. We got 2 platters, one chicken one beef, both very bland, rice and beans ice cold and so much drippy wet tasteless salsa on top it was a gastronomical mess. I ordered a taco each for the children (5,7) and they were starving afterwards, 5 bucks each! For a grand total of $29! As another reviewer mentioned we also had to have another lunch right after.
I can't believe this place is still open. It is a HUGE rip off- very very dissapointed and will never return.

I stopped on here for snack so all I wanted was one taco. They had veg or pork. I had the pork taco. I didn't find that it had much flavour and the meat was kind of dry and stringy to boot. The stuff on top was very wet and I was able to only take one bite before the whole thing collapsed in a soggy heap. They had one one kind of hot sauce. I did not get any salsa or pick de gallo on my taco. Very disappointing and I won't be back.

I thought the food was pretty "meh." After reading online that it was open until 8pm, I went with a companion to try it and got there around 6:45 yesterday. We got there and ordered (there was the pork, beef, and vegetable options left, and we each got a platter with one beef and one pork taco). Unlike others posting here, I thought the meat tasted pretty good. There was too much salsa on the tacos, but that's just a personal preference. I was hoping to see some cheese on the tacos, but I suppose maybe that's not traditional. The salad was a basic iceberg lettuce salad and the rice seemed fairly bland. I tried the hot sauce and thought it tasted awful, almost like spicy dirt. Then again, I am completely unfamiliar with hot sauces.

I'm glad I tried it, but I don't feel compelled to go back.

As we were waiting for our food, one employee walked outside and wrote on the chalkboard that they were closed for the day. It was about 7:00pm, so I assume they ran out of food, since there were still patrons sitting outside eating and people showing up wishing to order (until they saw that it was closed). Is it common for places like this to run out of food before closing time?

If you go and choose a platter, consider eating your tacos before the salad and rice. Otherwise they may get soggy and start breaking apart in your hands.