Those who dig restaurants inside gas stations will find much to love at a newly opened location of the excellent Taqueria Taxco on the far east side. The city’s second location of the Dallas-born chain can be found in a brand-new Mobil station at Cooks Lane and I-30. Taxco continues to be one of the area’s best taquerias – they make their own tortillas and they offer nearly a dozen taco fillings, including tongue, tripe, chicharron, beef and chicken fajita, ground beef, barbacoa and, freshly cut from a rotating trompo, pork. Their breakfast tacos are fantastic, too, especially the mashed potato taco jammed with cheddar cheese. I know, I know, my arteries hate me. Taxco also offers traditional Mex and Tex Mex fare, such as enchiladas, flautas, tamales, elote, quesadillas, sopes, huarache, gorditas, and Friday through Sunday, freshly made menudo. 7850 Ederville Road, ttaxco.com
From the Finally, At Last, Took Forever Department: The vacant strip malls surrounding Arlington’s much-touted Viridian community are starting to fill in with places to eat and drink. Lac Bleu Brunch Café, at 3990 N. Collins St., Ste. 116, is a new breakfast, lunch and brunch spot that, similar to Snooze, serves brunch daily, not just on weekends. There are dishes both sweet and savory, from benedicts and hashbrown bowls to crepes, waffles and pancakes stuffed or topped with fruits and whipped cream. Lunch items include burgers, soups, salads and paninis. Lac Bleu is a spin-off of the similar Egg Bar Brunch in south Arlington, which also serves brunch daily.
A few feet over from Lac Bleu, at 3990 N. Collins St., Ste. 100, is the new Chill Coffee & Wine Bar, which serves its namesake drinks, plus charcuterie, hot tea and pastries, in a low-key, “chill” atmosphere. Walk another minute or so to find Magic Cup, a new coffee, smoothie and tea house at 3970 N. Collins St., Ste. 160. This will be location No. 4 for Magic Cup, which has stores in Houston, McKinney and Richardson. Lastly, a second location of Keller favorite Maria Cuca’s Mexican Cuisine will open this summer at 3970 N. Collins St. Ste. 180.
A new pizza spot has opened on the Near Southside, which could definitely use a good pizza spot. Pie Tap Pizza Workshop + Bar is an upscale pizzeria from partners Rich Hicks and Giovanni Mauro, two longtime chefs and restaurateurs. The two worked together years ago at Romanos Macaroni Grill. This is the sixth location of Pie Tap and the first in Fort Worth. Aside from thin-crust pizza, the restaurant’s signature item, there are pastas, salads and sandwiches. 1301 W. Magnolia Ave., pie-tap.com
