Tacos.  And cocktails.  A bar.  Where people can have tacos.  Bar.  Tacos.  Bartaco!

It seems simple, but the concept is, admittedly, brilliant.  Barteca, the restaurant group behind Barcelona, saw the potential in the combination and launched Bartaco in 2010.  Inspired by Brazilian beach culture, they opened their flagship location in Port Chester, NY.  Popularity followed and they began expanding.  Today, Bartaco has 3 Connecticut locations: Stamford, West Hartford, and Westport.  They have also received national acclaim, with restaurants opening in Nashville, Tennessee; Tampa; Florida; Reston; Virginia, and three in Atlanta, Georgia.

On Wednesday March 23, CTBites was invited to participate in a blogger’s event featuring Bartaco’s newest cocktails and a selection of menu items.  Barteca’s Wine and Spirits Director, Gretchen Thomas, led us through a tasting of three of her latest drinks and provided insights about the “bar” component of Bartaco.

Thomas has a great deal of experience in the restaurant industry, as well as an extensive career with Barteca Restaurant Group.