Review: Taco Tantos

Last night, we ventured out of the Akron area and hit one of Kent's favorites, Taco Tantos. I have a slight obsession with fresh Mexican food. Honestly, I could eat it if for days on end. Fantastic Mexican is hard to come by in Northeast Ohio. Except for the few family owned places in the area (namely Azteca, Casa del Rio in Wadsworth, and some El Rincons) that strive for something above predictable, we have Chipotle. Chipotle is ok. I like it in a pinch, and you can't deny you get your money's worth. However, I wouldn't say its that great. The tacos tend to get mushy and fall apart, the meat always tastes like it has been sitting a little too long, and the burritos need a little pizazz. Nevertheless, its much better than Baja Fresh or (and I can't believe I'm even mentioning this) Taco Bell. Anyway, when you want a quick taco you're not given many options.

If you have the time and desire something extra tasty, I would recommend heading out to Kent to grab a burrito, taco, tostada, or salad at Taco Tantos. You can either order inside the restaurant (which has about 5 tables) or call ahead and pick up at the window off the Zephyr patio (you access that through the Zephyr bar on W. Main St.). Eating outside on the patio is the way to go; you can grab some food from Tantos and a beer at the Zephyr. In the off season though, its still worth sitting inside or ordering out. We ate inside last night since the bugs were bad, and I was feeling wimpy.

We ordered two tacos, a burrito, some chips and salsa, and a side of rice and beans. One taco and some chips were enough for me, so the extra one and the beans and rice got held over for lunch today. Every time I eat there, I'm blown away by the quality. No old chicken and soggy tortillas here. Each bite was packed full of authentic and well-balanced flavors. There's even a little kick at the end. The only thing I regretted was the amount of cheese on the taco. However, I'm not a huge fan of cheese and it could very well be a preference thing. The salsa and chips were very fresh (gloriously fresh), and not too salty. The tacos and burritos are masterfully constructed. They provide just enough toppings to get the job done without overdoing it. Another bonus is that they put the burritos in a hot press just long enough to get the tortilla crispy. One of the major benefits from that is they don't immediately come apart in your lap when you bite into them.

The staff is always friendly and helpful. If you have a special dietary need they are happy to work with you. For the most part the dining area is clean; however, on this particular visit the trash needed to be changed and most of the tables needed a good wipe down. There wasn't a fly to be seen, though, so I'm not too concerned. All in all, I highly recommend stopping here while you're visiting Kent. We always do. 4.5 out of 5 stars. $.

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