Revolver Taco Lounge

For months I would drive by the little Revolver Taco Lounge restaurant that was hidden between the Magee architect's office and a place that sold what looked to be stone yard art.  It never really stuck out but I knew it was there.  I never intended to stop because I couldn't figure out where to park and my interest wasn't piqued enough to care. 

Look, there's a table waiting for you.

Then they put out green umbrellas.  Why that attracted me, I don't know.  My grandfather was a good gardener.  Could that have something to do with it?  But the umbrellas made it seem more like a restaurant and less like a gold jewelry exchange.

I'm certainly glad they put out the green umbrellas (which have now been replaced with brown umbrellas).  Revolver Taco Lounge is one of the little gems we have here in Fort Worth that serves really unique and creative food - all made in-house.  This is one of those small places where people should be fighting for tables.  Unfortunately that doesn't seem to be the case.  Maybe its because nobody knows the secret to parking which I will reveal below.  Or maybe people are afraid of the unknown. 



Duck Tacos

The Revolver Taco Lounge has a unique menu organized in a unique way.  It starts with tacos stuffed with everything from chorizo to duck.  Then the menu moves into a ceviche mode with a number of options including langoustine (french for "tiny french fighting lobsters").  Next comes the Antojitos (Spanish for "langoustine mojitos") which are appetizers, sort of.  Finally the menu has an entree type section with larger plates.  There is also usually a daily specials menu as well and at lunch time they have a lunch special.

On my first trip, Mrs. FWHITW and I shared a number of small plates. We had chorizo tacos and calabacita tacos. We also tried black prawn ceviche tostadas and roasted chicken leg in mole sauce. The ceviche was spicy and very fresh.  According to our waiter, the fish is brought in fresh each day for the ceviche.  For those afraid of ceviche, you should be - if you're also afraid of tulips.

The tacos, which are probably what most people will order, had soft, fluffy tortillas, with well flavored ingredients. The chorizo was lightly spicy and the taco included pinto beans as filling.  It was a unanimous decision though, that the calabacita tacos were our favorites.  The squash and zucchini was still slightly firm but tender and had a delicious flavor.  A secret many don't know is that though the taco plates come four to an order, you can split your order and do two of one style, and two of another.  This review is now worth the cost.

The chicken in mole dish was another hit.  They make their mole in house and pour it over a chicken leg and then give you a side of tortillas.  Take the tortillas away from your eating companions and use them to soak up the mole.  It's fantastic.  The complex and rich flavor has a heat but its not real spicy.  It's a perfect compliment to the chicken leg.  And the tortillas.  And whatever else you can sop it up with.



This is the mole with chicken.  Note that this picture is not representative of what I had.  My meal came with more rice and more sauce.  I think it had more chicken too.  In fact, I think the person that took this photo ate half the food first.

On my second visit I had the lunch special which included rice, beans and a slow cooked pork.  The pork was covered in a delicious, spicy red sauce and the rice and beans were above average.  You'd expect at least that at a place like this.  But the two big hits of the meal were the guacamole we ordered for the table and the horchata that came with the lunch special.  The guacamole was spicy and fresh.  The fresh chips that came with it were insufficient considering we nearly licked the plate clean. 

And the horchata.  When I was younger and Mexico was safe, my dad and I were in the small town of El Fuerte.  It's close to the Baja but its really not that close to anything.  We were driving down a city street in a taxi with a local friend and he stopped the car to visit a vendor carrying large jugs of colored somethings.  I had always seen these in travels around the country but just assumed I should stay away from anything liquid being sold on the street of this wonderful third-world country.  Turns out I was wrong.  From that moment on, my new life rule became this:  when strangers hand me a liquid concoction on the street - I drink it.  It may be horchata.  And life will be better for it. 

There is no mas horchata in the middle jug.  That's because this is an "after" photo from my visit.  Not really, thanks to Eat This Fort Worth for this photo I didn't ask to borrow.

Horchata is a.....I don't really know.  Wikipedia says its a rice milk drink with cinnamon, and that sounds right.  It is opaque.  And its served at many a taqueria.  But here in the US, I haven't found a horchata as good as the one at Revolver Taco Lounge.  It wasn't overly sweet but had the taste I remember from El Fuerte.  At lunch, an aguafresca comes with the special.  If its horchata day, get it and send me $5.

After reading this you are no doubt drooling about drinking random liquid concoctions from the street.  But wait!  Go to Revolver Taco Lounge instead and drink from a glass like a civilized Fort Worthian.  We're not in dallas.

Finally, where do I park you may ask?  I promised el dorado and here it is.  Per an agreement with the Gold Exchange folks, you can park in any parking spot reserved for the Gold Exchange.  That includes the parking to the west of the building and about six small spots directly behind the restaurant.  There is even a rear entrance if you park back there. 

If you've been to the Revolver Taco Lounge, let me know what you think.  If you haven't been, check them out and provide some additional information in the comments section.  The restaurant is located at 2822 West 7th Street, on the north side of the road.