Taco Tuesday, a catchy phrase used amongst foodies and college students, is an opportune day for restaurants to draw in a large crowd for a cheap, classic meal.
Puerta Al Paraiso, located at 1529 W. University Ave., serves one dollar tacos every Tuesday between the hours of 3:00 p.m. until 3:00 a.m..
A group of friends and I chose to attend Puerta Al Paraiso's Taco Tuesday this week to celebrate a couple of birthdays. Looking for a filling meal consisting of large quantities of cheap tacos, we came prepared with growling stomachs.
As soon as we were seated at our table, we were greeted with a large amount of chips and salsa, a staple at any successful Mexican restaurant. It's easy to fill up on just this small snack, but that night was not the case.
The salsa was nearly flavorless. Its attempt at showing any level of spiciness was merely a glimmer of spice that quickly flavored. The texture was even more disappointing than the flavor, though. A classic sign of a quality homemade salsa is the texture, usually consisting of finely diced tomatoes, peppers or onions. This salsa did not feature any chunks or signs of fresh produce, instead it featured a watery consistency, perhaps the reason why the flavor was so diluted.
One person at my table chose to indulge with an order of Horchata. This is a traditional Mexican beverage, and when made fresh, it can include ground almonds, sesame seeds, rice, barley and cinnamon. When my friend told our waitress that he wanted Horchata, she hesitated and told him that they do not have that on the menu. Another friend at the table quickly responded and showed her that it was listed under the beverage section.
This was a simple mistake; our waitress could have been new to the job. It's also possible that not too many people order this drink. This drink is a traditional part of a Mexican restaurant's menu, and she should be familiar with what the menu features.
Perhaps I wouldn't be so critical with this simple mistake if the outcome of the drink would have been what was expected. When the drink arrived at our table, it looked like a glass of foggy water that had been sprinkled with cinnamon. It tasted exactly how it looked, and for almost $3, that was very disappointing.
But we're here for the tacos, right? The tacos featured your choice of chicken or beef and included lettuce and cheese. Our table ordered a total of 15 tacos. One would assume that the kitchen would have taco ingredients prepped in the kitchen for a night that features tacos as the special, and that the wait for food would be nearly nonexistent. However, we waited almost 20 minutes for food. I normally don't complain about wait times, but in a nearly empty restaurant that's running a special, I expect better.
The tacos, both chicken and beef, were bland and boring. The meat was flavorless, the lettuce was lacking and the cheese was overwhelming. The meat-to-cheese ratio was completely off as the amount of cheese in each taco was at least double the amount of meat. The tacos featured no sauce to add any moisture or flavor. But, for a dollar, how much can you complain?
One highlight of the tacos was the texture of the meats. The chicken and beef were either marinated very well or cooked in a slow cooker. Because of this, the meat was juicy and for the most part, enjoyable.
If Puerta Al Paraiso wants to survive in the lively Village of Ball State University, they need to step up their game. A restaurant like this should be packed with customers when they are running a special, especially in a college town. Perhaps changing the environment inside of the restaurant would help attract people.
The walls are blank, slightly decorated with what seem to be old birthday party decor. The small seating area features five different televisions, which create an annoying background noise throughout the building. The bar is small, and only features beer and wine agave margaritas, due to the fact that the restaurant does not have a liquor license. If you want to attract 21 and older college students, put more emphasis on your alcohol specials.
A few simple changes and Puerta Al Paraiso could be a huge success. In fact, I want to see them become successful. I am always looking to support new, locally owned businesses. The Village at Ball State as grown immensely over the past couple of years, and I can't wait to see what businesses can do to continue its growth.