Mountain Tacos & Tequila, the recently opened restaurant at 741 Main Ave., is the final product of an idea Tad and Vilma Brown have been discussing for years: bringing the iconic Mexican street taco to downtown Durango.
The restaurant features 10 different tacos, everything from BBQ Korean Short Rib with pineapple pico de gallo to Southwest Fried Chicken with green chile. Pork belly, fish, BLT, carnitas, falafel, grilled steak and grilled chicken also play leading roles in tacos that begin at $3 and top out at $3.75.
The recent weekly-special tacos were a sea bass and gyros-style lamb priced at $4.50 each. Two weeks ago, the weekly special was a lobster taco.
“The whole idea has been bouncing around with Tad and Vilma for a few years, and they just thought it was time to do it,” said Mary Quinn, a manager at Mountain Tacos & Tequila.
“Fired Up (Pizzeria, which the Browns own) was such a success.”
Eighteen employees have been hired to staff the restaurant, a mix between part time and full time, and the staff includes seven managers, Quinn said.
The restaurant inhabits the former space of Fired Up Pizzeria, which has moved next door, and Quinn said plans are to add a rooftop deck to Mountain Tacos similar to the one in operation at Fired Up, but the deck at Mountain Tacos might not come for a year or two, she said.
The restaurant also offers more than 40 tequilas and tequila flights. Two mezcals, cocktails, beer and wine also are available.
During the staff’s tasting party, one consistent theme was to make the tacos substantial, and Quinn said, “We definitely don’t hold back. I think you get your bang for your buck.”
parmijo@durangoherald.com
Mountain Tacos & Tequila
Owners:
Tad and Vilma Brown
Address:
741 Main Ave.
Hours:
Currently 4-9 p.m. daily, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. starting Monday
Phone:
(970) 764-4358
