Tequila Park Taqueria

"We didn't choose to work in Midtown, Midtown chose us. Just like it has possibly chosen you. And if you're anything like us, we make it a priority to escape the misery as soon as the workday ends. But sometimes a drink or a meal in the area is a necessity, and reasonable hangs with good eats are few and far between around these parts. For that one day a year you decide to stay local and drink with co-workers, you could do a lot worse than outdoor tacos and margaritas at Tequila Park, the new seasonal restaurant on the second floor courtyard inside the Hudson Hotel. Believe it or not, the tacos at Tequila Park are actually pretty damn good. They're a little bit tiny and a lot expensive, but that's to be expected in a place like this. The important part is that neither the tacos nor the margaritas are offensive, which is usually what you find when Midtown hotels start hopping on the latest dining trends. A word to the wise, don't roll up on Tequila Park expecting to eat or drink right when it opens at 4pm. Even on a Friday. We went last week on a half-day summer Friday, and were bummed that the tacos and tequila were not flowing until at least 4:45. They should fix that. People want to rage at the end of the week when the weather's warm. Or maybe that's just us. At the end of the day, Tequila Park is definitely a useful option to have in the tool belt, as long as you're aware of what you're getting in to. This is a hotel. People in ridiculous outfits from both Italy and Iowa will be present. And it's expensive. $16 margarita expensive. If you're OK with all of that, you can surely have some open-air fun here. Especially if you have a corporate card. Food Rundown Chips & Guacamole A chunky, oniony, really delicious guacamole with thick double-sided chips. We liked these a lot and went in for seconds. Pineapple Chili-Glazed Skirt Steak Tacos A solid $4 taco. The meat was nicely cooked, and we enjoyed the pickled onions, shaved cabbage, and radish toppings. Our one complaint was that the chili glaze on the steak, which was the best part about this taco, got drowned out a bit by all the stuff on top. Crispy 48-Hour Pork Carnitas Tacos An average carnitas taco. We'd skip this and stick with the steak options. Tuna Poki Tacos A sushi style taco of chopped tuna, sprinkled with scallions, drizzled in sesame oil, and topped with a Japanese aioli (whatever that is). It didn't really taste like anything, which is a problem. For $6 a taco, you'd hope for a little more flavor. Sriracha Cheesesteak Tacos Oh yeah. These were our favorite in this place. Shaved wagyu beef is mixed together with onions, peppers, chilis, and cheddar cheese, and then topped with quinoa chips for an awesome crunch. Seriously excellent. This is the taco to order. Margaritas Tequila Park has a whole bunch of fruity and spicy margarita options, and we enjoyed pretty much everyone we tasted. Still, at $16 a pop, we'd like a little more alcohol content. Your best bet is to get a pitcher, which can successfully get four people buzzing. Take a guess at how much this pitcher cost? We dare you." - Andrew Steinthal