I’ve finally done it. I’ve sampled all of the tacos from the regular menu at Nectar: Urban Cantina in Donelson, Tennessee. Ladies and gentlemen, while I could rest on my laurels, knowing that I’ve exhausted significant resources in completing this task, I won’t. I have a job to do.
That job is to provide the city of Nashville with all of the information I can about what’s going on in our fair city and where the best places to eat and drink are. That’s my burden as a journalist. It’s the cross I bear.
So, as many of you know, I’m a big fan of “spots.” You may be wondering what a spot exactly is, well…to quote myself:
Everybody knows what a “spot” is, right? The place you go when you’re stressed out, no special occasion is needed, and you just need to decompress. It is, quite simply, a great spot to hang. Nashville has become a destination “it city” in recent years, and there’s no shortage of touristy restaurants honky tonks. But, if you’re from around these parts, those kinds of places can get old quick.
One of my favorite spots in the greater Nashville area right now is Nectar: Urban Cantina. It’s just a great space. I firmly believe they have the best tacos in town. Great margaritas, a good beer tap, churros that are to die for, and a damn good coconut mocha. Plus, there’s a delightful backyard area that makes for a great place to enjoy a nice evening. Yeah. I’m hooked. So, with that in mind, let’s take a look at Nectar’s unique taco menu.
I should also point out that that’s not me in the featured image. That’s Mose, but it’s too good of a photo NOT to use every chance I get.
Taco Power Rankings from Nectar: Urban Cantina
10. Pork Belly Taco – Pork belly is interesting, but I’m not a fan of chow chow. This one was a “one and done” for me.
9. Chorizo Taco – I enjoy a good chorizo taco, but I can’t say I enjoyed the crispy potatoes in conjunction with chorizo on this taco. If not for that, I’d have it higher on this list.
8. Carne Asada Taco – It’s a basic carne asada taco, but that’s sort of how it goes with a good carne asada taco. Just meat, onions, and a spritz of lime.
7. Chipotle Chicken Taco – This was the first taco I tried at Nectar. You can’t go wrong with chipotle chicken anything. This is a good taco, but it doesn’t have the unique combination of ingredients that make the other tacos on this list special.
6. Al Pastor Taco – I love the way this pork shoulder pops with the grilled pineapples and lime crema. It’s a real dark horse on the Nectar menu.
5. Cauliflower Taco – There’s a lot going on in the cauliflower taco. The queso and pickled jalapenos are what make it, though. Without that zip, I don’t know that this is as dynamic a dish.
4. Chilled Ahi Tuna Taco – It’s an interesting take on a fish taco. The chilled ahi tuna gives this a sort of sushi vibe, and it’s definitely as filling as sushi. The hot sauce gives this taco a nice zing.
3. Double Decker Taco – I never knew I liked brisket and pico de gallo together, but here we are. It’s a hefty taco, too. The lime crema really sets this one off nicely.
2. Shrimp Taco – I’ve had a lot of dinky shrimp tacos, but what I like about Nectar’s is that they don’t try to overdo it. Big juicy shrimp. Big juicy pineapple. Some onions and a chipotle cajun crema. It’s the gold standard of shrimp tacos.
1. Portabella Taco – It’s the one taco I get at every sitting. I love the rich flavor of the portabella mushrooms. The black bean hummus, goat cheese, and house crema combine to make for the perfect texture. The kale adds a nice crunch to it, but it’s the pickled onions that steal the show. Such a vibrant combination of taste and texture, I can’t walk through the doors without one.
Stoney Keeley is the Editor in Chief of The SoBros Network. He is a strong supporter of Team GSD and #BeBetter. “Big Natural” covers the Tennessee Titans, Alabama Crimson Tide football, the WWE, and a whole wealth of nonsense. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley
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