Tag Archives: local

Coyo Taco

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I love tacos. Like, a lot. So, when I was in Miami, I was definitely excited to stop by Coyo Taco in Wynwood for my fix. Most times, if you think of a quick-serve taco place, you might be thinking of that Bell spot where everything is, well, gross. Hate me now if you love it, but you’re doing tacos all wrong. In fact, I don’t even know why we’re discussing this. So, I’ll continue. Let’s imagine a place that serves up Mexican street food, where the ingredients are handcrafted, locally sourced, 100% natural, and the meats are naturally raised and humanely treated. Too good to be true? Perhaps, but it exists at Coyo Taco. And, did I mention it’s all served up quickly and super affordably priced? Well, I just did. 

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I ordered a couple things, and started with their Elote De Calle (corn on the cob, chipotle aioli, cotija). I absolutely love Mexican street corn, and this was really delicious. You really can’t go wrong with a fresh ear of corn, grilled, and smothered with all the goodness of chipotle aioli and cotija cheese. It’s science. The only thing I will say, is that I only noticed after I ordered, that they offer Esquite, which is off the cob. Because, let’s be real, there’s no glamorous way to eat a huge thing of corn on the cob coated in aioli and cheese. 

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Then, I had the Pulpo Tacos (hand pressed flour tortillas, charred octopus, salsa veracruzana, pickled jalapeños). I’ve had my fair share of octopus at some more upscale restaurants, and for only $9, these are a strong competitor. I always appreciate a stuffed-to-the-gills taco, but, you’ll need to bust out the fork and knife at some point for these guys. The flavors are all outstanding here, everything is fresh and each ingredient pops. The charred octopus is tender, and had that great smokiness and slight char on the outside. They were amazing. 

The Shorts: 
Name: Coyo Taco
Location: 2300 NW 2nd Avenue #3, Miami, FL
The Long and Short: Would I go back? Absolutely. The food is awesome, and there are a number of picnic tables outside, in addition to seating inside, so you can enjoy your tacos al fresco. 
Would I recommend it? Definitely. Everything is really affordable, fresh, and delicious. You’re also a few blocks away from the Walls of Wynwood, so you can check out some incredible wall art after your meal. 

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Hearth

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The great thing about living in NYC is that there are so many restaurants to try, that you could live here for years and still not get to everything. The bad thing about living in NYC is that there are so many restaurants to try, that you could live here for years and still not get to everything. So, you feel really lucky when a restaurant has been operating for years, so that you can still get a chance to dine there. Thankfully, Hearth in the East Village is one of these places, so, I finally got to check it out.

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This Italian inspired restaurant focuses on seasonal, locally sourced ingredients, served in a casual, yet sophisticated, environment. All of the aesthetic elements give you the feeling of warmth and comfort, paying homage to the restaurant’s namesake. I went in for brunch, and while the menu sounded great, I opted to go for my own build-a-brunch and ordered a couple starters as my main. First, I had their Smoked Salmon Deviled Eggs. Now, I’m not a huge deviled egg person, but I love smoked salmon, so, that trumped the former. I really loved these, and if you enjoy smoked salmon, you’re not going to want to eat a regular deviled egg again. They have a really nice balance of the smoked salmon flavor mixed in the creamy and smooth yolk filling. Then, they’re topped with a little piece of crispy fried fish skin, adding a touch of crunch and texture.

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Then, I had the Balsamic Marinated Eggplant Toast with Ricotta and Basil. These little toast bites were amazing. They might look small, but they’re pretty mighty, topped with delicious and hearty ingredients, they make for an excellent part of your meal, or, as an appetizer to share. The eggplant has a fantastic sweet and slightly smokey flavor, completely tender, and a touch of tang from the balsamic. Then, the creamy ricotta adds a nice richness to the toasts, topped with basil for some fresh herb flavor.

The Shorts:
Name: Hearth
Location: 403 East 12th Street, NYC
The Long and Short: Would I go back? Absolutely. The food was awesome and the staff and service was outstanding.
Would I recommend it? Totally. Everything from the ambiance to the service to the food was on point, no disappointments here at all.