Tacos & Tequila — Restaurant in San Juan

Nestled within the illustrious embrace of Puerto Rico's Vanderbilt Hotel, Tacos & Tequila emerges as a vibrant culinary contender, a place where the humble taco meets the fiery spirit of tequila. On an island where the sun kisses the ocean and the breeze carries tales of adventure, this establishment offers a reprieve from the ordinary, a gastronomic fiesta that dances to the rhythm of the waves.

The ambiance, as one might expect, is a delightful blend of laid-back elegance and tropical flair. Here, the decor pays homage to the heritage of Mexican cuisine, while also nodding to the cosmopolitan sophistication of its Puerto Rican locale. It's an atmosphere that whispers of long, lazy afternoons and sultry evenings, of laughter shared over clinking glasses and plates brimming with color.

The fare, while humbly described as "not bad," is in truth a testament to the art of taco and tequila making. Each taco, a canvas of flavors, showcases the freshest local ingredients, wrapped in the warm embrace of handmade tortillas. From the zesty punch of the al pastor to the subtle complexities of the fish taco, each bite is a journey through the diverse landscapes of taste.

Tequila, the soulmate of the taco, is presented in its many guises, from the smooth sipping varieties to the bold and the beautiful blends destined for cocktails. Here, the spirit is not just consumed; it is celebrated, an ode to the craftsmanship that distills the essence of the agave into liquid gold.

Yet, what truly elevates the Tacos & Tequila experience is its setting within the Vanderbilt Hotel. This is not merely a meal; it is an encounter with the heart of Puerto Rico, a place where history, luxury, and local flavor converge. The view, a breathtaking panorama of the Atlantic, serves as the perfect accompaniment to the meal, a visual feast to complement the culinary delights.

Tacos & Tequila at the Vanderbilt Hotel is more than a dining destination; it is a celebration of culture, of the joy of simple pleasures elevated to an art form. It stands as a reminder that sometimes, the most unforgettable experiences are those that weave together the essence of place, the craftsmanship of cuisine, and the unpretentious joy of a taco paired with the...

I’m not sure how a restaurant can stay in business when the Chef and his team can’t manage to make edible nachos. Seriously, how is this possible? The restaurant is called Tacos & Tequila and I got the WORST frozen margarita and the worst nachos in history. If you are looking for something tasty, go somewhere else. Tacos and Tequila, advertises it’s Sunday football specials in all of the elevators in the Vanderbilt Hotel. Their claim to fame is their partnership with Patron Tequila. I feel certain it’s the Patron marketing that gets people in the door. On Sunday we decided to hang out at the beach on the “adult” side of the property and try it out. I wish I had walked to the west side and eaten at Ola. I ordered the loaded nachos and a frozen margarita. I’m not sure how it could have gone so wrong. The description on the menu is below: LOADED NACHOS: Local Beer Braised Chicken, Bacon, Scallions, Radish, Cilantro, Pickled Jalapeño, Spicy Cheddar Sauce. The nachos included corn chips which were great but with chicken that had been boiled so long it was flavorless. The description says there is bacon but I never saw any. In fact, it looked like it might have had barbeque sauce on it but it was also flavorless. There were a few scallions and jalapenos. Quite a few radish slices and gooey cheese sauce like you get in a giant can at Costco. Essentially corn chips with boiled chicken and nacho sauce. $14 TRADITIONAL MARGARITA Tequila Blanco, Freshly Squeezed Lime Juice, Triple Sec, Sweet and Sour The frozen margarita was ice and tequila. Seriously, all I could taste was ice and feel the burn of the tequila when I took a sip. $10 Of all the restaurants we visited on the island Tacos & Tequila was the worst. Let’s talk about service. We didn’t get any. We went up the stairs to get a menu and had to flag down a waiter. When he brought the nachos and the drink, he also left the check and we never saw him again. If I had I would have sent everything back but I’m lazy so I signed the bill and thought to myself clever marketing does not a great restaurant make. Then I got all my beach paraphernalia packed up and climbed the stairs back...

UPDATE: We spoke with the manager on the way out and he explained that he was not onsite for the top of the day - which validated that the service seemed to significantly improve once the manager started walking around. He offered his sincere apologies and a complimentary drink, which we greatly appreciated.

Dining at Tacos & Tequila at the Vanderbilt Hotel offers breathtaking views of Puerto Rico’s coast, and being seated at a table with a view on Easter Sunday without a reservation was a pleasant surprise. Our server was warm and accommodating, especially when we asked to move to a different table due to ants—he quickly helped us relocate. However, the dining experience was marred by incredibly slow service. Our appetizers took 45 minutes to arrive, and our entrees—just tacos—took over an hour, no exaggeration. When they finally came out, all of the tacos were served on a single large plate, which felt a bit odd for a higher-end restaurant. The guacamole was good, though smaller than expected, especially given the waiter’s suggestion that it was a large portion. Unfortunately, the sweet potato tacos lacked flavor entirely, and while the lobster tacos were decent, they were missing the mango listed on the menu. After we moved tables with our server’s permission, the hostess approached and curtly told us the table was “taken,” seeming visibly annoyed before silently preparing another table just a few feet away for the next guests. While the location is undeniably beautiful and the menu offers something for everyone, the long waits, underwhelming food, and inconsistent hospitality left much to be desired. Tacos & Tequila, like many other spots on the island, doesn’t quite live up to...