Speaking by mobile phone not long ago, he claimed business enterprise is down 40% to 50% in contrast with “before all this ridiculous stuff occurred.” But, he’s managed to remain open up the total time, by featuring takeout and making use of delivery providers.
Taco Cantina’s rooster tinga enchiladas come with environmentally friendly salsa, black beans and white rice. Bob Townsend for The Atlanta Journal-Structure
Credit rating: Bob Townsend
Credit score: Bob Townsend
“A little small business can not manage to near for two or a few weeks,” he claimed. “We are living paycheck to paycheck. What we sell that week, we expend on labor and stuff that we cook fresh each and every day. We’re not like McDonald’s, with frozen hamburgers. All the things I prep has to go out the similar day.”
Gonzalez has been meticulous about safety measures, necessitating masks for absolutely everyone, and installing protecting glass all over the buy counter and open kitchen.
Even now, he’s managed to hold his sense of humor, even in the face of a couple of uncooperative clients.
“I have a indication out entrance that claims, ‘No Masks, No Tacos No Tacos, No Existence.’ It is actually quite humorous,” he explained. “But, if you do not have a mask, we’ll give a single to you, totally free of value.”
Gonzalez had a next Taco Cantina site in Old Fourth Ward, but closed it in early 2019, a minimal over a year after it opened. “I was short on funds, and it was a large amount of overhead, and I just could not continue to keep it going with that and all the taxes,” he stated.
Gonzalez admitted his changeover from fine-eating to Taco Cantina was complicated at initially.
“To be straightforward, when I opened, my things was not that terrific,” he said. “I considered I knew food, but I realized seafood and other things, and it wasn’t from my possess society. So, I began speaking to my mother, and she wrote me recipes for barbacoa and rooster tinga, and helped me with the salsas.”
Later on, even though, Gonzalez made the decision to department out, and insert sandwiches and fancier-dressed “super tacos,” like Asian beef and buttermilk fried chicken, to the menu.
“I place on the torta Cubana, the rooster Milanesa, and the steak torta, just hoping the a few would promote, and, all the sudden, I was paying my charges with tortas,” he reported. “And, together with the nachos and burritos, the tacos turned secondary.”
Searching in advance, Gonzales reported he has a pair of new initiatives in the performs.
The Indigo Highway Hospitality Group asked him to assistance open up a new Mexican seafood cafe in Charleston. Soon after that, he’s hoping to open up a burrito shop, which will be a spin-off of the ghost kitchen he’s been functioning with Burritos California and Uber Eats.
“That’s my following transfer, to open up a little burrito shop of my have,” Gonzales said. ”It’s tricky now, but you’ve just bought to continue to keep cooking great food, and don’t gouge the shoppers, and just be truthful.”
TACO CANTINA
Menu: traditional and modern Mexican
Liquor: canned and bottled beer
What I requested: typical al pastor, tremendous fried chicken and tremendous Asian beef tacos chicken tinga enchiladas with green salsa, black beans and white rice torta Cubana with slow cooked pork, smoked ham, Swiss cheese, sweet relish, mustard and chile de arbol mayo, served with house tortilla chips. All were being strong offerings, but the torta Cubana and super fried chicken taco have been standouts.
Assistance solutions: takeout curbside supply by using GrubHub or Uber Eats get in touch with or go on the web for takeout or delivery
Outdoor dining: compact patio and outside tables
Mask policy: employees don masks clients must have on masks when buying masks will be provided, if required
Deal with, cell phone: 2517 Spring Highway, Smyrna 678-242-1826
Hrs: 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays 11 a.m.-8:30 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays shut Sundays
Site: mytacocantina.com
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