Serving Mexican Tapas, Plus Much Of Old Menu
Taqueros Returns Yet Again
To St. Charles Avenue
Guillermo Peters, who has at various times operated the best Mexican restaurant ever to open in New Orleans, and who at other times has opened eateries that make one wonder what in the world he's thinking, has reopened his restaurant on the corner of St. Charles and Melpomene for the third or fourth time.
At its peak, Peters had two great restaurants in the building: the casual Taqueros downstairs, and the gourmet-level Coyoacan upstairs. Both were in perfect quarters, with a distinctive, rustic Mexican design. Peters moved there in 2004 after operating Taqueros very successfully in a minimal location in Kenner.
And I thought that, at last, Mexican food was getting its due. Peters and his daughter are imaginate and skillful cooks, and never was there a lack of deliciousness or good ingredients.
But he closed after the storm. Reopened. Closed. Reopened, consolidating the two restaurants. Closed, after a week or so of grand farewell dinners. Reopened as Stop 9, which started out as an advanced snack shop (they even had sno-balls for awhile). Nobody could figure it out, or understood that the name was a reference to the stop on the streetcar line, right in front of the place. It closed. Now, he writes:
Hello Everyone,
I have reopened Taqueros at the same location on 1432 St. Charles Avenue. The menu is based in Botanas (small Mexican plates) also known as tapas, appetizers, bocas, bocadillos, etcetera. We will be serving tacos and the best of Taqueros' appetizers. The idea of botanas is to let the you tailor your menu to satisfy your appetite, no matter how large or small. We have a full service bar featuring our signature margaritas and home made sangria.
The service is very casual, fill-out an order slip, bring it to the bar
and we will call your name when ready. We are cash only. No checks or credit cards accepted.
I hope to see you all soon!
Sincerely,
Guillermo Peters
Here's my response:
Hello, Bill. . .
I'm very happy you reopened and can't wait to try your great food again. But when will you believe me when I say that the reason you haven't been there consistently is that you make your customers jump through hoops. No credit cards? Come on, Bill. Right there you've given a lot of potential customers--maybe most of them--a reason not to come. If you would just see things from our side of the table once in awhile and quit acting like you know better than we do what we like in a restaurant, and accommodate us, you'll be there forever. Which would be a wonderful thing, because nobody has your style.
Tastefully yours,
Tom Fitzmorris
Here's the menu:
Guacamole served with baked tostadas $6.00
Grilled Veggies $6.00
Tortilla Soup $3.50
Esquites corn kernels sautéed with onions, jalapeños and splash of lime juice. served with baked tostadas $4.50
Ensalada San Carlos spring mix, grape tomatoes, queso fresco and house dressing $3.50
Queso Fundido melted quesadilla cheese stuffed with choice of chorizo, shrimp adobo or veggies. served with tortillas $7.50
Chipotle Shrimp jumbo shrimp grilled and tossed with sautéed onions and chipotles $7.50
Tequila Shrimp sautéed shrimp in a tequila-pasilla butter sauce $8.50
Drunken Mussels mussels sautéed with tequila-smoked chile pasilla $7.50
Lamb Chops two lamb chops marinated in our special seasoning and grilled $8.50
Tacos $2.50 topped with cilantro & onion, choice of:
Cochinita Pibil pork wrapped in banana leaf seasoned with achiote and baked
Al Pastor pork marinated with pineapple and our own blend of red chiles and baked
Poblano Chicken braised chicken with roasted poblano strips, tomatoes and red onions
Chile con Carne braised beef seasoned with our own adobo, onions and tomatoesRice and Black Beans $3.50
Roasted potatoes $3.50
Flan $4.00
Cheese Cake Chef’s inspired flavors $4.75
Taqueros. Lee Circle Area: 1432 St. Charles Ave. 504-267-3028. Dinner Tuesday-Saturday.