It was the perfect day off. It was the kind of day where the sun was shining, and someone suggested getting drinks in the early afternoon. The sort of day where you find yourself half in the bag at 1:30 in the afternoon, and the next obvious decision is to go get tacos and margaritas.
Absolutely wonderful.
This time, I didn’t have to walk further than a few blocks, to Pancho Villa, right on Nicollet, a street which is affectionately referred to as “Eat Street” here in Minneapolis. Nicollet is a long drag that stretches from the tip of downtown all the way down to Old Shakopee Road. It is almost a hundred blocks long, and half of that is either pedestrian mall, or a stones throw to the most delicious delectables that Minneapolis has to offer.
Places to note that don’t involve tacos include: Jerusalem and it’s fine Middle Eastern Fare (belly dancers, too on the weekends!); Spyhouse, my place of employment and home of the best coffee this side of the Mississippi; and the Quang Pastry Restaurant, a freaking tasty Vietnamese chow house.
All the other fancy feasts aside, I was on Nicollet for one reason, and one reason only on that day: tacos.
A friend suggested Pancho Villa, a storefront taco place that spares on the frills, and puts that extra energy toward making authentic and blog-worthy tacos.
A few extra things to note about this particular taco place:
1) If you have a party of 6 or more, you get to spin a game wheel that will give you prizes which include everything from free tacos, to free drinks.
2) If it’s your birthday, and you have a party of 6 or more, you get FREE drinks all night.
3) You can order tacos individually, which I have found is a rarity lately. Sometimes I want to gorge myself on three tacos, but other times, I just want a light taco-snack. Oh, freedom of choice.
4) Every day is two-fers on margaritas, and Dos Equis.
Amazing.
On my perfect day off, I decided that two steak tacos would be best.
The tacos were respectfully simple, and rather coy, because hiding behind that nonchalant exterior was a powerhouse of flavor. Maybe you think I’m being hyperbolic, but today is another day off, and I might just go get more of these puppies. By myself. I’ll even eat them there, instead of rushing them away my apartment to eat guiltily while watching Grey’s Anatomy.
The one thing that bummed me out was that they didn’t have any super fantastic sauces to put on the tacos, but I guess it doesn’t matter, because it’s not like the food needed any additional flavor. I did get a side of guacamole for the chips, and ended up applying some of that taste-paste to the tacos, which was really only because I felt kind of guilty eating such a pile of meat for breakfast/lunch. Avocados are fruit, right? Between that guacamole and the mimosas I had earlier that day, I’m sure it was enough fruit.
I ate those tacos so fast, the camera couldn’t even get a clear shot.
Granted, I only got two, but I cleared my plate. That’s what really matters right?
In the end, these tacos (and the margaritas weren’t bad either, for a two-fer deal) created a perfect day not only for me, but for my friends, too. By the power of tacos, all shall be comforted.
