When an old friend, a native Durhamite, came home for fall break, she suggested we catch-up over dinner. Given her longstanding familiarity with the Dirty D, it only made sense that she choose the restaurant. She suggested Nanataco, a quaint and casual Mexican restaurant sandwiched between Nana’s restaurant and the Original Q-Shack on University Drive. And so, on a rainy Thursday night, I found myself plugging Nanataco’s address into my GPS system and setting off another nom-venture.
Nanataco is easy to reach if you have access to car transportation but difficult if you don’t. The restaurant is located only three miles from West Campus, but with traffic, you’re in for at least a ten to fifteen minute drive. Parking also presents an issue at Nanataco. It shares one small lot with its neighbor, the Original Q-Shack, and its other lot is hidden behind the backside of the building. Perhaps I encountered additional parking woes due to the pouring rain and increasing darkness of the night, but regardless, finding a spot for my car was tricky (a thought echoed by my dining companion).
Nanataco touts itself as “Durham’s taco spot,” but it seeks to please all consumers with a wide array of Mexican dish selections. In addition to tacos, the restaurant offers salads, burritos, tortas, quesadillas, and chorizos. Keep in mind that this listing is only a sample of the restaurant’s many offerings. In fact, I was overwhelmed at first by the sheer volume of food on the Nanataco menu!
My friend and I decided to embrace the menu’s many options. We splurged on an appetizer, entrées, and dessert. For $5.50, we ordered chips and guacamole to nibble on until our food arrived. Delivered in a cute little basket, the appetizer proved to be a very wise decision. The guacamole had the perfect consistency –not too thick and not too thin- and taste that one searches for in guacamole. The combination of the guacamole and the warm, crunchy chips made for a wonderful starter. We added to the tastiness by taking advantage of the ginormous salsa bar, which was replete with all salsas known to mankind. Okay, that might be a bit of an exaggeration, but you get my point. We probably ate much more than we should have, but the sheer deliciousness was well worth it.
Our main meals, however, were a different story. Due to their classification as a “Nanataco favorite” and my love for fish tacos, I ordered the grilled fish tacos with mango-jalapeño salsa. I had high expectations for my meal. But alas, my $7.50 tacos disappointed me. The salsa, though heaped onto my tacos in great amounts, lacked a noticeable presence on my palate. Its taste was negligible at best. Even more frustrating was the lack of any distinct taste or spice in the fish meat itself. The fish tacos may be a “Nanataco favorite,” but they definitely do not earn the distinction of being a “Roshni favorite.” My friend experienced a similar dining fate. She ordered a burrito stuffed with chicken and grilled veggies but was less than impressed after taking her first bite.
After finishing our meals, we looked forward to dessert, hoping it would be more flavorsome. We chose to share the $3.00 spicy Mexican chocolate milkshake, another Nanataco favorite. If my hopes were high regarding the fish tacos, they were nothing compared to how I felt about the milkshake. I mean, chocolate mixed with spices – what’s not to love? Well, I am happy to report that the milkshake did not disappoint. If anything, it did the opposite. The spicy Mexican chocolate milkshake exceeded my expectations. It was the perfect mix of spiciness and sweetness. Before we knew it, we were slurping away at an empty cup...
On the whole, I enjoyed my dinner at Nanataco. It was nice place to catch-up with a friend over food. My main meal, however, was greatly outshined by my appetizer and dessert. Still, I will say that Nanataco is a fine eatery. With its cute décor and relaxed ambience, the restaurant makes for fun, easy gatherings and cozy date night spots alike. Nanataco has plenty of seating both inside and out-of-doors, so you’re sure to find a spot to sit no matter when you arrive. If you plan to eat at Nanataco (which you should even if solely for the spicy Mexican chocolate milkshake), be sure to factor the issue of transportation and parking into your plans.
Directions from West Campus bus stop: http://www.mapquest.com/#c40d07984570a4a43bf943cf
Nanataco website:
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