Chef Michael Schlow's Original Mexican/Southwestern Venture: Tico ( A Follow-up)

After less than a year of Chef Schlow's Fenway spot Happy's Bar+Kitchen, which didn't present the same clear culinary direction as Alta Strada, Tico, Via Matta, and Radius, we have said goodbye to HBK earlier a couple of weeks ago.
But do not despair, the neighborhood will not gain another empty building for very long.  Chef Schlow plans to replace HBK with a Mexican restaurant and if Tico is any indication, I for one, am looking forward to it.

A few weeks ago, a friend and I decided to splurge on a rare lunch away from the desk.  Tico was the obvious choice for contemporary Mexican, Spanish, Southwestern fusion satisfaction.

One afternoon we nibbled on a few of my favorite apps before diving into Tico's uber tasty and creative tacos.

Crispy Fried Manchego Cheese with Spicy Pomegranate Honey

Tico's fried Manchego cheese (sheep's milk cheese from the Manchego Region of Spain) is beautiful!  A creamy center and lightly crusted exterior served with a sticky, spicy pomegranate-honey sauce which balanced the moderate piquancy of the cheese.

Crispy Honey-Cayenne Chicken Wings

The juicy, crispy, honey-cayenne chicken wings do not boast much heat, but have great flavor!

Tuna Tartare Tostadas with Lime, Serrano and Cilantro

On this particular day, I didn't particularly enjoy the tuna tartare.  I found it to lack the richness that typically accompanies a well marbled tuna.  I not sure if toro was served on previous orders, but something was off on this day.

The highlight of the meal for me was one of Tico's beautiful non-traditional taco: 

Crispy Fried Chicken with Fennel Slaw and Spicy Buttermilk Dressing

The Fried Chicken Taco: a perfect, moist piece of fried chicken with a crisp coating was elevated with a tangy, aromatic shaved fennel, red chili pepper, and carrot slaw and a generous pour of spicy buttermilk dressing which added both heat and richness.

Bacon, Cabbage and Green Tomato with Chipotle Sauce

Another favorite was the bacon, cabbage and green tomato taco!  Smoky cuts of bacon were drizzled with a complimentarily smoky chipotle sauce, then topped with shredded cabbage and a cool, flavorful layer of pureed green tomato.  An simple and amazing dish with a flattering combination of ingredients.

Spicy Shrimp, Bacon, and Avocado

The delicious, spicy shrimp taco (above) rivaled the first two.  Smoky bacon makes another appearance along with a pureed bean (maybe pinto or black eyed) component, pickled red cabbage, and dollop of avocado.

Pork and Spicy Cucumber

The tender, juicy braised pork had cinnamon notes and was topped with spicy, fresh cucumber slices.

Head over to Tico and try some of their other amazing tacos and entrees.

Also, check out their impressive tequila and rum selections at the bar.

Also, during warm months, their cozy outdoor space is a must.