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Cuco's Taqueria

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Started 1 year ago by Walker
Latest reply from alexs

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Walker
The KLD / Downtown
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So... is this place still a CU favorite in 2011, or has it jumped the shark?

http://www.cucostaqueria.com

We used to really really love this place, but the past two times we've been (including tonight) it was a little sub par. Everything was really spicy (though none of the things we ordered was listed as spicy on the menu) and the food just didn't seem as good as it did a year or two ago. Wasn't sure if I'm just imagining that or if anyone else has had the same experience lately? Haven't heard quite as many people raving about it lately...

At least it was cheap.

Vestanpance? Patient Zero? You guys still going here religiously? ;)

Posted 1 year ago #
nexttuesday

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I still go there once in a while and find it to be about the same. Every once in a while I will have a bad experience (food takes forever because they are busy or something isn't cooked as well as I expected), but overall I think it's still good.

Posted 1 year ago #
chaptal
West Side
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Been a couple of months since we've been there, but everything was as good as ever. Simply very good and very reasonably priced. We might go Wednesday night.

Posted 1 year ago #
Roland
Clintonville
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Cuco's is still good with me. I go there for lunch still.

I think the Taco Truck madness that has swept the city over the previous years has just brought attention to some better Mexican food addictions.

Posted 1 year ago #
Walker
The KLD / Downtown
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I think having Rancho Alegre much closer to home has spoiled us.

Maybe we've just been to Cuco's on off nights lately... hrmm...

Posted 1 year ago #
Snarf
Dystopia
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I do love some Rancho Alegre.

Posted 1 year ago #
patient_zero
Falafel District
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Walker wrote >>
So... is this place still a CU favorite in 2011, or has it jumped the shark?
http://www.cucostaqueria.com
Vestanpance? Patient Zero? You guys still going here religiously? ;)

This may surprise you, but my first and only time I've been there was when I met you,Anne and Desi for Fish Taco Week, inspired by the fish taco thread. Swampkitty and Paul were regulars there, I wonder if they still frequent there.

The food was very fresh, and unlike the food you had recently, it had no heat - zero Scovilles. The guacamole, tacos, and burrito were tasty with all their natural ingredients, but lacked heat, but there were several hot sauces within my reach.

I felt the service was haphazard that night. The servers didn't have sections, and would take tables on a rotation as guests came in, regardless of where they sat. Being in the service industry, the whole process bewildered me. I don't know how they handle customers today, but the combination of spotty service and plain food, followed by the restaurant's relative distance from me has kept me away regardless of how beloved they may be to many CU regulars. And honestly, there are so many great taco trucks in my vicinity that I'm pretty content here. If I were heading to the Westside, I'd likely hit up some of the beloved trucks on the Columbus Food Adventures list.

FYI: Rancho Allegre North should be opening soon as well!

Posted 1 year ago #
SJT

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Huh. I still love Cuco's & it is our go-to place for Mexican. I actually like it because it is spicy& has more flavor than most Americanized taco joints. I also think the Allegre is just a step above El Vaquero though- which I think is OK at best. I do wonder if being a vegetarian changes my perspective though. It may make what I get very different than other dishes people eat there. I feel like when I go to Cuco's they are not just scooping food out of a couple giant bowls& blopping it on my plate& out to my table in 90 seconds.

Posted 1 year ago #
Liner Notes
Short North
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Heather and I love going here. We used to live a few blocks away which made it more routine. But now that we are in the Short North, it is a special occasion meal for us.

Thanks for making me crave the ceviche! Maybe I will have to pay them a visit tomorrow. ;)

Posted 1 year ago #
Walker
The KLD / Downtown
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Snarf wrote >>
I do love some Rancho Alegre.

Just went tonight with some family visiting from out of town.

After having both places back-to-back... our meals were much better at Alegre.

Posted 1 year ago #
groundrules

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if i am up that way, La Casita gets the nod.

Posted 1 year ago #
vestanpance
Harrison West/at work OSU
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Walker wrote >>
I think having Rancho Alegre much closer to home has spoiled us.
Maybe we've just been to Cuco's on off nights lately... hrmm...

I still go, and tell people it's the best sit down mexican in columbus IMO. But with that said I always order the same thing (cubana torta) so I'm not sure about the quality of anything else. The salsa bar still rocks.

Like you, We've been going to Rancho Alegre a bunch because it's close to home, but I think the two places taste a lot different. Both good, but different.

Posted 1 year ago #
lifeliberty
Here
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I hadn't been to Cucos for a while so we went about 2 weeks ago since we were in the area. The food tasted the same as I remember it, which was really good. We got what we normally get, the fish tacos, nachos del mar, and don cuco burrito. Maybe i need to get out more, but i'd find it hard to find a better meal especially for the price. I was actually shocked, when I got the bill, at how inexpensive it was for the quality of food we received.

We were also there around 3 in the afternoon on a weekday. we like to go to places when they are slow, we always get better service, better prepared food, and less mistakes.

Posted 1 year ago #
alexs
Limestone bluffs of the Scioto
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They always have a big lunch rush, so try to avoid that time slot.

Posted 1 year ago #
vestanpance
Harrison West/at work OSU
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lifeliberty wrote >>
I was actually shocked, when I got the bill, at how inexpensive it was for the quality of food we received.

It is dirt cheap, that is for sure.

Posted 1 year ago #
JonMyers
HCMC ✈
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I always liked the food at Cucos, but even more so, I love that little bar in the back with the mini-fake palm trees and grass thatched roof. It's perfect place for sitting around chilling with a few friends on a Saturday afternoon and sipping some margaritas.

Posted 1 year ago #
alexs
Limestone bluffs of the Scioto
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I like the salsa bar, it's just like what I saw in Los Angeles (Compton).

I haven't tried La Casita in a long time, my last impression was they had simplified the menu and added more cheese and sour cream, and the white families were filling the place.

I was recently at one of the Vaqueros, it was acceptable but it made me miss Cuco's.

Posted 1 year ago #
vestanpance
Harrison West/at work OSU
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alexs wrote >>
I haven't tried La Casita in a long time,

La Casita seems to really shine in it's dishes with sea food from my experience.

Posted 1 year ago #
alexs
Limestone bluffs of the Scioto
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Maybe it's different regional specialities at different places?

There used to be a place on Henderson (the old Schmidt's location) named Guadalajara; their menu made a point of saying their cuisine used little or no hot pepper.

Posted 1 year ago #
Snarf
Dystopia
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I've had varied service/experience at La Cosita. Their taco truck style tacos are really good though.

Posted 1 year ago #