Something old, something new: both very tasty for this week’s review. I decided to try the highly recommended and tucked away cantina style restaurant of Taco Mamacita this week. Taco Mamacita opened a couple of years ago on the Northshore and has expanded to include a Nashville location. I also wanted something new, which came in the form of the new icy treat chain location, Rita’s.
Although, technically, Taco Mamacita could be classified as Mexican cuisine, that doesn’t adequately cover the Mamacita menu. For instance, you are not going to be handed a plate with beans and rice and a plump looking burrito filled with some kind of salty pulled pork or chicken. Mamacita offers a classy, new edge to the recycled, worn-out selections that most Mexican restaurants offer.
What stands out the most is perhaps their selection of tacos. There is the gyro taco, filled with thin sliced lamb, cilantro, pico de gallo, Baja white sauce, cucumbers and feta cheese. Or you could try the California club taco that is filled with roasted chicken, Applewood smoked bacon, lettuce, guacamole, pico de gallo, jalapeno lime mayo and chipolte cream sauce.
These tacos are not your average encounter. There’s also the Caribbean Jerk taco, Baja Fish taco, and the Oy Vey taco filled with slow cooked chipolte beef brisket. You won’t have to beat yourself up over choosing just one though, because they offer a combination of two of any of their tacos and a side for only $8.99.
The sides are pretty suave as well. The “Mexican Street Corn” comes on or off the cob, and is topped with a flavorful sauce and Parmesan cheese. Patrons can also choose cilantro-spinach rice, charros beans, chipolte turnip greens, jalapeno corn slaw, black bean and corn salad, or sweet potato fries for their side.
Yet, I think I’m getting ahead of myself in neglecting to mention their appetizers. Taco Mamacita has some delicious “Fresh Guacamole Now!” made with jalapeno, tomato, cilantro, and onion, served with tortilla chips. You can also get these chips with cheese dip or one of the homemade salsas that include roasted tomato, mango, or salsa verde. The “Nacho Mama” appetizer could be a meal in itself, comprised of an oversized tortilla chip topped with all kinds of goodness and chicken, carnitas, or beef brisket for a little bit more.
This eatery is laid back, but the food is elegant and precise. For a gathering with friends, a birthday celebration, or a night out on the town, Taco Mamacita has got you covered.
After getting your fill of the Taco Mamacita fare, head to the other side of Market Street where there is a new kind of frozen treat. Rita’s offers, “Ice. Custard. Happiness,” according to their motto, and it’s hard to deny that they fulfill this promise.
Chattanooga has got a healthy supply of ice cream shops, and so Rita’s fills a niche of dessert dinning that has been missing. Offering several different kinds of custard, cream ice, and 31 different kinds of Italian ice varieties, there is something for everyone.
The Italian ice is Rita’s signature dish, which is much smoother than a snow cone and combines ice with real fresh fruit; made fresh daily at each location and served within 36-hours of mixing. Italian ice is trans-fat free and also comes in sugar-free selections.
You could try the chocolate peanut butter ice, the Swedish fish, the wild black cherry, or Georgia Peach. If you’re feeling like a cream ice, there are birthday cake, caramel apple, or cheesecake varieties to consider. No need to feel overwhelmed by the choices, because the Rita’s staff is happy to offer multiple samples to find your ideal treat.
Yet, Rita’s offers more than the either/or debate between custard and Italian ice. You can get both in one of their combination drinks. There is the “Misto,” which is a combination of Italian ice and frozen custard blended into a cool, creamy and delicious customizable treat. The “Blendini” offers a mix of Italian ice and frozen custard blend with all kinds of different candies to mix in like Reese’s peanut butter cuts, Heath English toffee, or Nilla wafer cookie pieces.
The “Gelati” is their No. 1 selling treat, and presents a layering of Italian ice and creamy frozen custard, or “Slenderita.” True to its name, the Slenderita offers the satisfying taste of the vanilla frozen custard, but is totally fat-free. It can be mixed in with any of the other combinations as well.
Rita’s will certainly be able to meet our summer treat needs and its location, convenient to the Aquarium, will fit well with the already bright and welcoming tourist spots that surround it. Rita’s hours and full menu are online at www.ritasice.com.
Email Erica Tuggle at reporter@hamiltoncountyherald.com.