1 /5 Rachel S: I went to Botanico Tacos & Tequila with high hopes, but the tacos I ordered (which included pastor, rooster, and pork belly) were honestly some of the most disappointing I’ve tried. I only managed a single bite of the pastor and pork belly before pushing them aside. The pork belly was drenched in an overpoweringly sweet sauce that clashed horribly with the salty cotija cheese. The flavors fought each other in a way that was completely off-putting. The pastor was just as unappealing, with a strange spice profile that tasted like cinnamon, which felt completely out of place. To make it worse, both tacos were served cold, which made the textures even more unpleasant. The rooster taco never even got a chance. By then I had lost all appetite.
It was frustrating because presentation-wise, the tacos were actually beautiful, and the restaurant itself is gorgeous, inside and out. But when food looks great and tastes borderline inedible, it only makes the disappointment sting more. The choice of country music in the background also felt oddly mismatched with the otherwise stylish vibe; something livelier, like reggaeton, would have set the atmosphere much better in my opinion.
The one saving grace of the afternoon was the service. Our waitress was fantastic! Warm, attentive, and genuinely one of the best I’ve had anywhere. I wish the kitchen lived up to the same standard. Unfortunately, the food was such a miss for me that I can’t imagine coming back for another meal.