Went to Tacology for dinner on Tuesday night. We started with cocktails, I went with a Jalapeno Margarita and my date ordered a spicy smoky mezcal drink. Then for food we ordered Guacamole & Chips and the Queso Fundido With Chorizo, followed by the Crab Meat Tostada, the Tuna Tataki Tostada, the Pastor Tacos, the Special Ribeye Tacos, and the Baja Fish Tacos.
Quality
From start to finish, there is no doubting the taste and quality of the food and drinks prepared by Tacology. Both of the cocktails ordered were unique and fun. As a fan of spicier drinks I found the Jalapeno Margarita a perfect fit, with tequila, ancho reyes, and jalapeno chunks. I only got a sip of the mezcal cocktail, which among other things had an egg white and jalapenos in it. It was smokier with a bit less heat, but still very enjoyable. For appetizers I enjoyed both the Guacamole & Chips and the Queso Fundido With Chorizo. It was a solid guacamole mixture and I particularly enjoyed a bean based spicy salsa that came along with it. It is hard not to like a bowl of cheese, so the Queso Fundido delivered as well. Then for the tacos and tostadas, my highlight would be the Crab Meat Tostada. With an abundance of crab meat, cucumber, red onion, avocado-puree, and an aji mayo to keep it all together, it was a fresh and delicious snack. I also greatly enjoyed the Special Ribeye Tacos, with steak, chorizo, crispy chicharron, and salsa. The Tuna Taki Tosada was a good item, simply for the mound of fresh tuna it came with. The Pastor Tacos were pretty standard with pork, onion, cilantro, pineapple, and guacamole, but they were on special so we ordered them. The Baja Fish Tacos were the only disappointment, I did not like the flavor of the fish and it was very light on chipotle mayo.
Quantity
While the majority of items served were good and of high quality, the sizes were extremely small. I easily could have ordered several more dishes and still left hungry. The tostadas are definitely a better selection than the tacos, because of the mound of toppings they come with.
Value
The price is the biggest problem with Tacology. I understand the importance of high quality ingredients and I'm sure the rent is not cheap in the fancy new Brickell City Centre, but the idea of paying $8-$12 for tiny tacos is too much. The same go for the drinks which start at around $15. In the end you are going to either leave hungry or having spent far too much on tacos.
Ambiance
Tacology is located on the top floor of the Brickell City Centre mall, right near the movie theater. The mall itself is a very cool modern space with an open air concept. Tacology seems to build on that with its sleek and fun design. The space is split into an outdoor patio and then an indoor dining area. However, the fact is that neither are really outside or inside. The outdoor area is open to the mall, but covered and sheltered from the actual outside. Brightly colored tables and couches are spread throughout this area. We ended up under a set of lamps and plants near the center of the patio. Fake fire pits lit up the area directly behind us. The patio then has a wide open wall that leads inside. Part of the theme is that they have several different kitchens for the diverse menu. Each kitchen operates in a corner with the middle of the space full of additional seating. On the far wall they have a massive screen that was showing music videos and the audio was playing in the background. It was all 80s rock bands, which was a weird choice, but made for fun scenes on the screen. They also have a large bar for those just looking for a cocktail. Overall it is bright, colorful, and fun space.
Crowd
Maybe it is just because of the cavernous space, but I feel like every time I visit Brickell City Centre I am amazed by how empty it is. Yet I walked into a madhouse at Tacology. Nearly every seat in the restaurant was full. The majority were groups of young adults drinking margaritas, but some small families were in attendance as well. I would think it is a good spot before seeing a movie.
Service
Our waitress was marvelous. Extremely energetic and friendly as well as knowledgable about how and when to order. That said, I hate the fact that you order on an iPad. Sharing a single menu for a table and having to figure out the ordering system is terrible. They had tons of friendly staff, I don't understand why they do not utilize them.
Parking
Brickell City Centre has parking garages. Right now parking is complimentary for the first two hours in order to bring in business. I don't know how long it will last, but soon it will be $3 for the first hour.
Extra
I really want to like Tacology more. I enjoyed the food, the staff was great, and the space was very cool. However, the tiny portions, the high prices, and the unnecessary use of technology make it tough to love. read more