Saint Añejo - Review - The Gulch - Nashville - The Infatuation

"It’s 2014. Iggy Azalea is doing her thing on the radio. Your outfit? On fleek. And you’ve packed your selfie stick to take pictures at this new-ish spot that opened in the Gulch called Saint Añejo. Good thing, too, because everyone is there. The rock-themed Mexican cantina, from the restaurant group behind Kayne Prime, Virago, and Moto, is packed with people eating guac and chips to cushion those really edgy spicy margaritas. Fast forward to now, and Saint Añejo is like a culinary Axl Rose—still clinging to its glory days even though it's painfully obvious those times are long gone. The menu is still focused on Mexican-style dishes, but the food is bland and watered down. Rice is oddly seasoned and dry, protein fillings in tacos and burritos are scarce, and the tortillas oscillate wildly from arid to borderline raw. However, the margaritas still hold their own. They’re well-balanced and not overly sweet, running you somewhere in the $12-$15 range ($45 for a pitcher), which isn’t terribly outlandish for the Gulch. But if you’re looking for a better marg or a livelier bar scene, just head over to Rosepepper Cantina in East Nashville or Pushing Daisies downtown. Food Rundown Tacos Al Pastor “Where’s the beef?” Indeed, Clara. Indeed. The scraps that we manage to find are dry and stick to our throat in a really uncomfortable way. Steak & Shrimp Fajitas It's not totally offensive, but again, Saint Añejo suffers from a flavor issue. The steak and shrimp almost taste the same—forgettable at best. Mexicali Rice We’re not sure what makes this rice Mexican or Californian, but the odd blend of seasonings that tastes overly anise-forward doesn’t do much to save the clumpy grains. Margaritas The margs here are solid and under $15. The Perfectamente Picante is nice and spicy." - Jackie Gutierrez-Jones