The atmosphere feels welcoming walking into the warm and bright restaurant that is Taco Mar. Opening up on Oct. 16, Taco Mar has already received an overwhelmingly positive response. I’ve come to check out what all the hype is about at 314 S. High St. It is rumored to have the same owners as its neighbor: Amore Pizza.
Order numbers are being called out while baskets of food whisk by my friends and me. Unsure of what we want to order, we spend a few minutes looking at the menu. The many options excite me, but I know immediately what my first dish will be. I get into the quickly forming line to order my burrito bowl.
At the burrito and salad bar station I get the rundown on how I can order my burrito bowl. Each burrito bowl can consist of rice, beans, protein such as grilled steak, barbacoa, grilled chicken and shredded chicken. Next come the greens with options ranging from lettuce, diced tomato, cilantro, jalapeño, onions, pico de gallo to corn. The dairy section includes shredded cheese, creamy cheese sauce and/or crema Mexicana. A range of salsas are also available.
Drifting down the line, my bowl is looking absolutely mouth-watering. The staff are so helpful, double-checking that my chips and guacamole are on the way when I’ve only been waiting for less than a minute. Their smiles are contagious; you can tell they truly love seeing their customers so happy. Before I know it, I’m sat down staring at my burrito bowl and chips with guac as if it were about to be my last meal.
While stuffing my face with delicious food, I can’t help but look up at the walls of the restaurant. Spread across an entire wall is a brilliant painting of a bull stalking towards a matador holding a blood red sheet. The back wall has dozens of license plates, each one representing a different state. Chairs ranging all the colors of the rainbow are paired with tiled tables covering the floor of the restaurant, creating a playful and illuminated vibe.
While the prices might be a bit steep for a college student, everyone should make sure to try this little slice of heaven at least once. Curious and intriguing, Taco Mar makes a quesadilla that has octopus in it. So if you’re feeling adventurous and craving some good Mexican food, Taco Mar is the place for you!
While the concept of Taco Mar is similar to Chipotle, there is no question as to who pulls into first place in the race towards wholly authentic Mexican food. With chips that contain the perfect amount of saltiness and shredded chicken that I am still thinking about three days later, Taco Mar takes the flan on this one.
It is evident that Taco Mar prides itself on bringing only the best flavors to its restaurant. Traveling for years trying to find the best recipes from all over the world, Taco Mar should definitely be considered in the running as one of the freshest Mexican restaurants “north of the border.”
Even though Taco Mar is just starting out in the world of West Chester, it’s clear they’ll be around for years to come. If you’re on more of a time crunch or just plain don’t feel like leaving the couch, Taco Mar also does takeout and delivery!
Hannah Tollen is a fourth-year student majoring in English with a minor in journalism. She can be reached at HT823371@wcupa.edu.