Cantina La Veinte Owners Bringing Tacology Taqueria to Brickell City Centre

Hybrid taqueria and market Tacology is slated to open in the sprawling Brickell City Centre as soon as November. The 250-seater will offer paletas, ceviches, and salads alongside traditional street-style tacos and more upscale creations.

"It's going to be like a mercado, with four open kitchens and a terrace," says executive chef Santiago Gómez, who also helms Mexico City-based Cinbersol Group S.A.'s Cantina La Veinte inside Icon Brickell. 

The taqueria will use dried heritage corn brought in by Brooklyn-based Masienda. They're the same kernels used at Miami Beach's Taquiza, Cantina La Veinte, and many Mexican restaurants across the nation, such as New York City's Cosme and Empellon. In recent years, these eateries have placed a new focus on the humble tortilla, which for thousands of years has been a bedrock of the Central American diet.

Gómez says the kitchen is also experimenting with making tortillas from quinoa, the corn fungus called huitlacoche, and the cactus pads called nopales. Salads will run $9 to $12. Pairs of tacos will go for anywhere from $6 to $11. Among the offerings being developed are classics such as el pastor and carnitas. There are also plans for a rib-eye-filled tortilla plumped up with chorizo and chicharrones. Gómez says to also expect vegetarian options such as a mushroom taco topped with aged Parmesan and the Mexican herb epazote. 

As for ceviches, which will range from $11 to $14, the early offerings look to include diced octopus with pico de gallo, as well as corvina and shrimp tossed with quinoa and bulgur and then washed in an ají amarillo-habanero marinade.

Tacology's entry into Brickell City Centre is a spot of good news for the forthcoming luxury mall. Though developers have promised an "Italian-style food hall" and a number of restaurants, many of them, such as the announced American Harvest and Big Easy Wine Bar & Grill, seem to be unknown quantities. On the upside, Tacology will join Luke's Lobster and Pubbelly Sushi's second location in helping add better options to Brickell's dining choices.

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