Bonus LFM: Bakersfield

That's right friends, a BONUS Local Foodie Moment!  To add to the bonusy goodness its another taco place!  I'm not really sure why this restaurant didn't end up on Columbus Crave's New Restaurant List this year but maybe they had enough Mexican restaurants already on the list.

Anyways, my friend Asha and I wanted to get together before the holiday madness so we made a dinner date to try this relatively new Short North eatery. Even on a Monday night the place was packed!  We cozied up to the bar, on their oversized stools, and had some very yummy fare!

I ordered a margarita (back to that "when in Mexico" mindset), it was nice and tart, served in a quaint Mason jar.

We ordered the chips and guacamole since we didn't know if the tacos would be very filling or not.  Bakersfield serves their chips warm (YUMM), their guac has great lime flavor and is a little on the chunkier side.  I love a guac with a lot of lime so I was a very happy camper.  Asha and I agreed the chips serving is far too big, if they used smaller baskets and refilled them with warm chips when you got low it'd probably be a better set up.

We each got two tacos (but they actually brought out an extra hence why there are five in the picture).  They serve them on pizza pans altogether.  Asha got the Short Rib, braised short rib, queso fresco, crema, pickled onion, cilantro and radish and the Cochinita Pibil, achiote braised pork, pickled red onion, habanero salsa and cilantro.  I got the Rajas (veggie), poblano, fresno, bell peppers, ejotes chihauhua, queso fresco and cilantro and the Short Rib.

Cochinita Pibil on the left, Short Rib in the middle, Rajas on the right

I LOVED the Rajas taco, it was a little acidic but the peppers were really fresh and all the flavors together were delicious.  We both agreed the Short Rib was good, nice a tender, good flavor and good toppings.  Asha said she wasn't totally in love with the pork but as you can see from the picture they stuff their tacos pretty well so they ended up being plenty filling.

Like I said before it was packed on a Monday night so its definitely a popular spot!  The service was good, there was a couple miscommunications but I attribute that to it being noisy and hard to hear (the bartender asked if I wanted salt on my marg or not, I said no, he still put salt on the rim, he also put in an order for an extra taco for Asha that she didn't ask for).  But the atmosphere is cool, old western movies play on large TVs, stools made out of saddles were placed around some of the high top tables.  Service was pretty speedy, but like I've mentioned in previous Mexican LFMs the cuisine is pretty easy to churn out at a fast pace.  Overall we had a good meal and I definitely wouldn't mind going back!

Well Christmas is drawing closer and closer!  Who's ready?!  This little blogger is a bit behind this year, still struggling to get everything done!  Like last year we are all over the place visiting family and friends this holiday season so my blogging may fall a little behind.  If I don't get another post up before Christmas I hope you all have a safe and wonderful holiday!

Cheers!
Steph