Cascabel Taco Joint

"Taco Joint - restaurant or River North outpost of an upscale Señor Frogs? There’s definitely a little bit of both going on here. We’re not saying the food at Taco Joint is on the same level as Señor Frogs - that's a high bar to meet. But neither place is getting crowned the next great Mexican restaurant anytime soon. At $3 to $4 apiece, the tacos at Taco Joint are fairly cheap, and we concede this is one of the only places in River North where you can get a casual sit down meal at a reasonable price. But we aren’t willing to concede it’s a good idea unless for some reason you're stuck in this neighborhood. There’s a reason Taco Joint seems to be a haven for people capitalizing on Groupon and Gilt City vouchers - you need some extra enticement to get in the door. The space is big and warehouse-like with a few brightly painted walls and a whole lot of different tequilas on the shelves. And it’s these factors that give it the Señor Frogs vibes, minus the part where Señor Frogs actually starts to get fun. That’s because Taco Joint perpetually feels like 7:30 pm at everybody’s favorite Bahamas spot - the day party is over, the night party hasn’t begun, and you’re sipping on margaritas patiently waiting for things to pop off. But there will be no popping off happening here, because you’re past your glory days and the limbo is a horrible idea. If you need a spot to load up on average food and margaritas with your friends on the River North cheap, then sure, by default this is your spot. Just don't expect much more than that. And certainly don't expect to recreate that one awesome dinner you had on high school spring break, because no night out will ever be that enjoyable again." - Sam Faye