Bartaco

I absolutely can not understand why Bartaco averaging 3,5 stars so far. This place is amazing, and without a minor doubt it is a 5 from me. I read peoples' reviews, and I think their problem was not getting the concept right. Moreover, 'Mexican' in an establishment type may be a bit misleading for some too, as people may expect those MASSIVE burritos and chimichangas and stuff, but this place isn't about it. Bartaco is located at the corner of huge plaza, away from the shops. Even though they share parking, there are plenty of spaces, no worries about it at all. The place is relatively new, as well as the building, so it is nice both inside and outside. I like the interior design with those high ceilings and those plants hanging from it all over. I also liked the way bar area is designed, with these transparent overhead shelves and fresh juice squeezers all around it. Service was very good, hostess told us there was a 20-min wait for the table (Monday night), but the bar still had some spots, so we went there. I even liked it better, cuz I was able to see kitchen on my left, bartenders were always in front of me (in case I needed anything) and it was easier to see the entire place from there. Bartender explained how everything was set up, walked us through the menu and was super attentive further on. Going forward, food seems to be Bartaco's biggest advantage to me. Yes, these tacos aren't the size of those you order in your local taqueria, BUT! being that small, you can make it through the entire list and still have some room left for dessert. I had a tough day and was really hungry (bartender told me normally it's about 3-4 tacos per person), so ended up with 7 myself. All of the tacos were unique to me, every single one had its own character. For instance, Falafil had sorta tzatziki sauce, Tuna was made on the lettuce leaf (with some outstanding sauce) and Cauliflower was cooked to perfection somehow (even though I didn't get its secret, it was my personal fav). Oh and their homemade salsas, there were 3 of them on the table (Roja, Jalapeno and Habanero) and they tasted just Mmmmm.... Now pricing, having small plates and charge a bit per each may look tricky, however, I'd rather overpay ordering bit by bit, than get something huge without being able to finish it up. Moreover, it gives you a chance to go over much more items on the menu. Check for two was roughly $75, which is slightly over our personal average, but considering Deerfield and towns around as communities with slightly higher average income per capita, that is absolutely normal. Checkmate to whoever rated 3. And thank you if you made it to this point! p.s. There is no tap beer, cans and bottles only. They do not accept apple pay.

This is a nice casual place with an open airy feeling to it. It's a great date night spot! I loved the decor, modern yet comfortable. The service was very good, our waitress was very attentive. She took the time to explained everything and answered all our questions. She was very patient so we didn't feel rushed at all. My wife and I only had the tacos, so I can only comment on those...they were superb! Very tasty and moist, bursting with flavor! Lots of things in the menu sounded scrumptious, I'll be back to try them all. At the end of the evening, the manager stopped by our table to talk to us. He was very personable and friendly. Talking to him was a nice touch before we left. He made us feel even more welcome and likely to return.

The only reason I am not giving 5 starts is our server who was slow and reactive. Dirty dishes weren't cleared off the table without our asking and no explanation of items on the menu even though they should have been explained. It's a non traditional restaurant with some items being very spicy as portion sizes small. The hostess was beyond wonderful! Food was good even though they were out of lobster and 2 beers on the menu.

The tacos are really good gourmet delights, but don't expect authentic Mexican fare. The highlights for me are the pulled duck and glazed pork belly. Swordfish and rock shrimp tacos are also great. The atmosphere is comfortable but a bit loud. Outdoor seating is a bit quieter. Service is spotty as all the staff are still new. The margaritas are super good. They squeeze fresh limes for each one they make. I don't like it when they're too sweet; these are perfect. Not that you can smoke at bartaco, but I haven't seen matches at the hostess stand in years. They have nice quality wooden ones. Not a big deal, but I still love that touch. Go on off hours to be seated immediately. They're busy during peak times and you can expect to wait a long time. No reservations. I've been there several times already, and have only been disappointed once with super slow service.

Food is great. We had the guac (a little spicy, but not overwhelming, no tomatoes), street corn (really good), and 6 different tacos (each was good in it's own way- choose what you like). Sangria was also well done. Ambiance was over all a little loud, but talking was not impossible. Wait staff is largely new, but seemed well trained. Will go back!

First, I have to say how much I love the fact that you can add your name to the waitlist prior to arriving. BarTaco does it right and that helps a ton and I think makes for a really excellent business! Next, I loved the restaurant decor and how clean the place was! The drinks came fast and the tacos came out hot and delicious! My wife was very impressed for our date here and for that I am very grateful. We’ll be back!