Wednesday Food and Drink Round-Up
California Taqueria “With all the exciting-at-first-but-in-the-end-really-mediocre dining that happens in BoCoCaTown, it’s nice to have a cheap and delicious taco joint to rely on. At least two nights a week, I find myself running down Court Street jonesing for some California Taqueria. I swear, the pollo asado tacos from CT kick the ass of all…
California Taqueria
“With all the exciting-at-first-but-in-the-end-really-mediocre dining that happens in BoCoCaTown, it’s nice to have a cheap and delicious taco joint to rely on. At least two nights a week, I find myself running down Court Street jonesing for some California Taqueria. I swear, the pollo asado tacos from CT kick the ass of all the Jim Marmary joints and frou frou bistros lining Smith and Court.” [Clean Plate Club]
After the jump: Cattyshack’s SportsShack weekends, first impressions of La Lunetta (formerly Taku) on Smith Street, and undercover tacos in Bushwick.
Cattyshack
“Park Slope’s Cattyshack is a bi-level, bipolar wonderland on Brooklyn’s industrial Fourth Avenue, courtesy of Meow Mix’s ex-owners. Weekend nights find sweaty boogying (stripper poles included), while weeknights are abandoned to cheap drinks and endless games of pool. But for 10 glorious hours on both Saturday and Sunday, Cattyshack transforms into SportsShack. Three TVs and a projection screen are tuned to betting-worthy sporting events, while guys and girls drink $5 pints of spicy, hangover-squelching Bloody Marys and relieve themselves in unisex tiled bathrooms.” [NY Press]
La Lunetta
“The place is sort of Lupa-esque with lots of small plates for sharing. We got a couple bruschettas — a garlicky, smoky roasted eggplant and a lovely lemony ricotta — the toppings were great, though the bread used to make them was overly charred in parts — but not enough to mar the flavor. At $3 bucks a pop they were a nice way to start. We also got some nice roasted beets with rosemary — simple but good.” [brooklynsabra on Chowhound]
La TortillerÃa Mexicana Los Hermanos
“The salted beef, called cecina on the menu, is tough, sliced into thin strips and fried on the griddle. It and the beefsteak are surprisingly similar. Carnitas are bits of moist and intricately spiced roast pork. All are good options and would be commendable at another taco stop, but lovers of the pig should choose those fillings only if there’s a shortage of the chorizo or the marinated pork, called enchilada. Both are highly seasoned, the chorizo with bright red chili powder, the enchilada with a darker, deeper dried pepper.” [NY Times]
California Taqueria has to be one of the stankest, most inedible Mexican restaurants in the city. Burritos are always stale, meats are tough and flavorless, and fillings are unevenly distributed. On top of all that, the staff is one of the surliest in the neighborhood. This place has no right putting “California” anywhere near “Taqueria”
I can’t believe the Times got to La TortillerÃa Mexicana Los Hermanos!! This place is truly incredible. The food is very cheap and very tasty – as good as any expensive joint. Very friendly people. One of a very few places to eat in this nabe worth considering.
California Taqueria is really no better than buddy’s burritos. do yourself a favor and trek up to rachel’s in park slope or… well… anywhere else.