Welcome to Kitchen Kat!

I love writing. I love food. Those are two interests that have stayed constant throughout my life. So why not combine the two? Perfect! Trying out different food is like almost like traveling; you get to experience different smells, tastes, and atmospheres. It brings a bit of the culture to you, even if you didn't leave your home. This blog explores Portland restaurants (plus any notable ones I encounter on vacation), recipes that worked out exceptionally for me, plus any other epicurean delights that come my way. Put any reservations aside, now it's time to chow down on some food for thought....

Saturday, April 30, 2011

Skip Casa del Matador

DON'T GO HERE:




















My friend Bruno felt like tacos tonight, but was up on NW 23rd. Where to go? I'd never been to Casa del Matador, so I suggested that. Turns out, that was a mistake. You want blaring music and frosted faux blonds from the suburbs? Go there. You want to spend $10.95 on mediocre tacos served with unseasoned, boiled black beans (seriously, the only seasoning on them was a sprinkle of cotija cheese) and numerously reheated generic "Mexican" rice. Go to Casa del Matador! You want only one napkin to share between the two of you? You guessed it! Casa del Matador. So you get the idea: this place was horrid. There was one bright spot, though: the drinks. My tamarindo margarita was really good and sprinkled with cinnamon, and Bruno's mojito was solid.
GO TO THIS TYPE OF PLACE INSTEAD:
Next time I want tacos, I'll be going to Taqueria Santa Cruz in St. Johns. Actual Mexicans eat there instead of transplanted Minnesotans who reside in Lake Oswego, and the tacos taste like what you'd get in Mexico, otherwise described as DELICIOUS. Oh, and they're all around $2.00. So yeah, if you want a taco, it's definitely worth a trip to St. Johns.

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