Special diets not a problem for Taco Mamacita

Restaurant: Taco Mamacita, Nashville, Tennessee

I know…I know.  I reviewed Taco Mamacita already.

But, some things bear repeating.  Back when I last reviewed them, I had not yet had to go gluten-free.  And that’s why they are getting a second review.

Coming back from a trip to Birmingham, Alabama, hunger usually strikes around the Nashville, Tennessee area.  No problem.  Nashville is a plethora of restaurants and dining destinations.  But when you know there is good food to be had at a good price…well…why go anywhere else?

Since we had (not-so-good) pub grub the previous night, Mexican food was sounding more our speed, rather than hitting up our go-to pub in the area.  Since we knew we got great service last trip to Taco Mamacita…we returned with a vengeance.  We were greeted by a very friendly waitress who happily grabbed the vegan menu for me upon request.

Our waitress, Rebecca, came over to make sure we understood the menu and to take our drink orders.  I told her that I was a gluten-intolerant vegetarian, so if anything I order raises a red flag, to let me know.  She said they had menus for both and would be happy to help me through it.  Off she went to retrieve our drinks and when we returned, we put in an appetizer for the Chips and Salsa ($2.99).

And this is how I knew it was going to be okay to eat here, especially after the horror of the pub the night before.  When the order came out, half of the chips were fried up into tortilla chips.  The other half, were soft corn tortillas, untouched by the frier.  Safety, for those of you with gluten allergies know that cross-contamination can be tricky when it comes to shared friers.  Here, they took that question right out of the equation and my chips and salsa were just as amazing with unfried tortilla chips.  And, as we settled in to eat, I spotted the Taco Mamacita Chipoltle Sauce.  One quick inquiry with Rebecca about whether it was gluten-free or not, which she didn’t know but went to check and returned a moment later with the answer – yes, and I was in safe dining heaven.

As for the food…well…with such a diverse menu sometimes it is hard to choose.  But, my roommate went with their two taco plus a side combo – the Shrimp Po Boy BLT Taco and the Caribbean Jerk Taco with a side of Green Chili Rice ($8.99).  As for me, I ordered the Vegilladas (vegetarian enchiladas), which consist of corn tortillas filled with sweet corn, tomatoes, black beans, and topped off with a spicy jalapeño-cilantro sauce ($8.99).  Normally crumbled feta is on top of it, but as I was ordering from the vegan menu, it was kindly left off, which I appreciated.  I chose the Jalapeño Corn Slaw as my side.

After a small wait, Rebecca brought out the food, which looked absolutely amazing.  By now, we had polished off the chips and salsa and were ready for our substantial meal of the day.  And…just as before, the food didn’t disappoint.

I love the Vegilladas.  Not only are they packed full of protein and vegetable nutrients, but they were so full of flavor.  Nothing bland about this nice mix of corn and black beans.  The jalapeño-cilantro sauce was the perfect touch for the dish.  Mixing it with the provided pico de gallo only added to the food experience.  And, while not big on any sort of slaw, what I found was pairing this mildly spicy dish with the jalapeño corn slaw provided a nice, clean palate cleanser between bites.  And this slaw wasn’t overly dressed either.  It was perfect, so the different components were still there in each bite, and not being masked by way too much dressing.  I liked that.  A lot.

We finished our plates, happily stuffed and politely turned down desserts.  Rebecca was such a rockstar when it came to helping me out with my menu choices and ensuring a very safe dining experience.  I loved coming to Taco Mamacita before but now I have even more of a reason to do so.

Best of all, I wasn’t charged extra for having a special dietary need.  So often, when you go gluten-free the price goes up.  Not here.  Everything (even my half of the chips and salsa) was kept at menu price.  I wish more places would do that instead of punishing gluten-intolerant people with at least $1.00 extra for their “special” food.

This was a refreshing and much needed restaurant trip.  I felt completely at ease and Rebecca and the kitchen staff saw to it that I had a safe, pleasant, and delicious dining experience.

Food and service like that will make you stand up and say, “Whoa Mama!”  And that…is their motto, which makes it only fitting.  So, if you happen to be traveling through Nashville, swing by Edgehill Village and dine at Taco Mamacita.  It’s worth the stop for great food, great service, and a great price.  And when you go back…and you will…try something else.  So many interesting flavor combinations…so little time.