A group of Pasadena-based restaurant entrepreneurs have decide to combine their resources and will be opening a new taco spot in Eagle Rock on Tuesday, Sept. 26.
The new restaurant, called Taco/Social, will be housed in a historic, 5,000-square-foot brick building at 1627 Colorado Blvd. It will offer indoor dining, bar seating, an outdoor patio, and a private dining room for special events.
On its website, the new restaurant’s slogan says, “Eat Freely. Stay Social.”
“We see an opportunity to approach tacos in a completely different way,” Elise Wetzel, co-founder of Blaze Pizza, said in a statement. “At Taco/Social, we’ll serve chef-created, globally inspired tacos in a counter-order format, so the food will be both craveable and affordable. And we’ll offer signature cocktails, plenty of outdoor seating and a family-friendly kid’s menu. Both the food and the format are unique, and we think the community will love it.”
Other successful Pasadena restaurateurs who are behind Taco/Social include Chris Bicos, co-founder of Gus’s BBQ; and André Vener, co-founder, and Michael Montagano, CEO, of Dog Haus.
The statement said Taco/Social will focus on creating affordable, crave-worthy taco options. It will also be providing signature cocktails, ample outdoor seating, and a family-friendly kid’s menu.
Creative taco flavors – with such names as Greek Life, Bar-ba-coa, K-BBQ, Banh Mi, NOLA Po Boy, and Tikka Masala – are now on the menu, developed in consultation of Top Chef winner Ilan Hall. Ingredients for the tacos will be thoughtfully sourced, with sauces, toppings, and proteins prepared fresh every day.
One of Taco/Social’s standout features will be its signature tortillas, which will be made fresh to order using a dough recipe that includes just five simple ingredients, the statement said.
The menu will also include street corn, house-made queso, loaded nachos, and a unique Milk & Cookies cake, which offers a playful twist on the traditional tres leches dessert.
The restaurant will cater to guests with dietary preferences by offering gluten-free, vegetarian, and keto menu options. Guests can also substitute either corn tortillas or lettuce wraps for flour tortillas on any taco.
A tequila-forward bar will be serving specialty fresh and frozen margaritas, craft cocktails, wine, and draft beer. Celebrity mixologist Phil Wills, a regular on the hit TV show “Bar Rescue,” helped develop the specialty drinks, which include a Sweet/Smoke Margarita, Oaxacan Old Fashioned, and Hot Honey Whiskey Lemonade.
Taco/Social will also have a daily social hour with food and drink specials from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
“We’re one part taco and one part social,” Chris Bicos, co-founder of Gus’s BBQ, added in the statement. “You can come for the food and grab some drinks or come for a drink and grab some delicious, memorable tacos.”
Taco/Social is designed to be an “affordable community gathering spot where friends and families can come together for lunch, social hour, or a leisurely dinner and drinks,” according to the statement. No reservations are required, and guests can order at the counter and sit at any table they choose.
For more information and to check out the menu, visit https://tacosocial.com/.
