Taco Taco — Restaurant in Miami Beach

This review is not for the Catalina Hotel. It is strictly for the Taco Taco restaurant.

The Taco Taco restaurant is part of the Catalina Hotel and Beach Club brand. The hotel has 3 buildings and one of which houses the restaurant, too.

I arrived at the hotel the day before Thanksgiving 2022. I was told my room was in the Taco Taco building. I would find an elevator in the restaurant. It is worth noting that the Catalina Hotel is heavily decorated. It feels like you're walking into Havana, full of texture, color and art deco.

The sun is setting, so it's also dark. I arrive at the restaurant and I don't have a clear sight of the elevators that lead to my room. I've been traveling all day from Washington DC. My flight was diverted to Tampa due to fog, so I am exhausted and I need to conserve my energy to go find parking. I just want to get to my room, unload my things and then go find parking for my car. The restaurant is practically empty. Instead of expending the little energy I have remaining on looking for this elevator - I don't know if it's inside our outside - I apologetically interrupt the gossip between two employees to ask if they could help me.

I believe her name was Yasmina or Yamila. I know she was the hostess, because she tells me this very rudely. She literally takes a step back, pulls on her name tag so I could read it, because clearly I didn't and she says, "I am the hostess!" Like, why would you be asking me about anything related to the hotel? Shs says, "How would I know where that is!? Ask the manager!" She then points to her, rolls her eyes and walks away. The fella she was talking to looked embarrassed for me.

In all my travels and it is worth noting that I travel alot, I have never had someone be THAT rude. Not even in places like Europe or Turkey where people aren't as kind. It was like she wanted to make me feel small.

It was so rude. My first thought was the hostess of a restaurant should be welcoming, inviting and helpful. Helpful. Not rude and disrespectful. A hostess should also know everything about the freaking restaurant, to include where the elevators are regardless to where they lead. I thought, you need to stop telling people you're the hostess because you're not living up to the expectations of your role.

Needless to say, I walk into the restaurant and I see the elevators right in front of me. However, as I was sharing my experience with another Catalina employee as I was headed to happy hour, I was told that Taco Taco employees are known for being rude, nasty or unpleasant. That is why they always recommend guests go to the sister restaurant (Maxine's) instead.

All I could think was: the Taco Taco folks most be friends with or related to the owner to feel that safe and comfortable being rude and mean to people.

Right then and there, I made a pledge that I would not be visiting Taco Taco to eat at all..They could be the last taco restaurant on Planet Earth and I wouldn't go there. I don't need any more rude experiences with the Hostess with NOT...

I was very disappointed with the overall experience of this place. Starting off, our party of an 18 year old and two 17 year olds were seated by one of the hostesses and were not helped or seen by anyone for an entire 20 minutes. After that point, our waiter (Anthony) came over and asked if we were ready, and took another 15 minutes after we said we would be ready in one minute. Once we placed our initial order, our waiter asked us “still or sparkling water,” a question we’d heard numerous times in Detroit where we are from at fancier dining places, and have generally learned how to reply to since. When we answered still water (one of the two only choices he gave us) , we expected regular water from a bottle or a pitcher, and that is what we got. We got tap water from a bottle that the waiter faked opening directly in front of us, which gave us the impression that they were just re using the bottles and would not charge us for it. At the end of the meal, the wait of over a half hour for service and another half hour for food made us eager to leave. Upon looking over the bill, we saw a $16 charge for water that we were made completely unaware of at all times. All other tables around us had free (confirmed by management), regular water with ice in it, and we did not get ice, or even the option of water with ice. Also, the $8 charge of a single 4 oz container of “guacamole” that was just avocado and cilantro with nothing else in it made us more annoyed, yet another obscure price we were not informed of at any time. After reviewing these charges and conversing with our very bothered seeming waiter, I asked to see the manager and got a very rude “okay” from the waiter. When the manager came over to our table, I was immediately brought back to a vision of my classes in elementary school, with my teachers looking over me wide eyed, arms crossed, rudely telling me that my concerns and issues were invalid, as the manager did exactly that. After a little back and forth, the manager decided that even though we were not informed of any of these charges unlike the other tables, that he would not comp any single part of the bill. When he decided this, he literally turned his back to us and walked away with no offer of making the situation any better, no apology, nothing. After much consideration, we realize that Miami is a very expensive place but we feel as though our young age was definitely taken advantage of, and overcharged over an entire entree’s price because of our expected vulnerability. Very poor experience with all rude staff and I would not recommend this...

Taco Taco in Miami is not just a taco joint; it’s a culinary fiesta where the tacos are so good, they might just make you perform an impromptu salsa dance right there at the table. This place takes your typical taco experience and flips it on its head, spins it around, and dresses it in a conga line of flavors. The moment you step inside, you’re enveloped in an ambiance that’s part street festival, part cozy cantina, with a dash of Miami spice for good measure.

The menu at Taco Taco is like a love letter to the taco, offering a variety of creations that range from traditional to “wait, what’s in this?” Each taco is a masterpiece of taste, with combinations of ingredients that sound like they were dreamed up by a mad culinary scientist – and trust us, it works. The Carne Asada taco is so tender, it could probably melt a heart of stone, while the fish tacos are rumored to have been blessed by Poseidon himself.

But the real showstopper is the “Taco Loco” – a creation so daring, so audacious, it’s like a carnival ride for your taste buds. You haven’t lived until you’ve tried a taco that makes you question the very nature of tacos. And let’s not forget the sides – the guacamole is so fresh, you’d swear the avocados were plucked from the tree upon order, and the chips are so perfectly crispy, they deserve their own fan club.

The staff at Taco Taco are more than just servers; they’re your guides on this taco journey, ready with recommendations and a quick joke to make your meal even more enjoyable. And the margaritas – oh, the margaritas! They’re mixed with a skill that could only come from years of margarita mastery, striking the perfect balance between tequila, lime, and the secret ingredient: Miami fun.

In summary, Taco Taco is more than a dining destination; it’s a flavor-packed adventure where each bite is a celebration of the taco art form. Whether you’re a taco aficionado or a curious newbie, Taco Taco is the place to be for a meal that’s as delicious as it is entertaining. So, grab your sombrero, bring your appetite, and get ready for a taco experience that’s as vibrant and colorful as...