Tinker Taco

Went to Tinker Taco on a cold rainy day in January. It’s a unique and cool place. There are four separate areas including two buildings. The restaurant/bar, the takeout building where all the food is cooked, the covered deck with two large outdoor grills and an outdoor area with picnic tables. The restaurant portion has several tables and a bar. I’m looking forward to going on a warm day and sitting in the covered outdoor area to have tacos and margaritas. My wife had a Sweet Potato White Bean Vegan Taco ($6.25). I had the two taco plate with one being Chorizo Y Papas (house made chorizo with golden, lettuce, queso fresco) Taco and the other being Barbacoa (Chili braised beef short rib and red cabbage slaw with avocado) Taco which comes with rice and beans ($19.50). It was all delicious. You order at the bar and they take your name. They put a number on your table so they know who the order goes to. They bring the food to the table. It’s all casual as it should be since it’s Woodstock. I like the atmosphere and the inside decor. You got to be a dog lover to eat here. There were a few dogs mostly laying around but also walking around a little, including under our table. Customers also had dogs. It’s good to have a dog friendly place you can go out to lunch at. The hours are a bit strange; Friday and Saturday noon until 6PM, Sunday Noon until 5 PM. I’m more into going out to dinner than out to lunch. Maybe it’s different in the summer, which I understand.

I typically don’t leave reviews unless they’re great, but this is a unique experience. It was our first time in Woodstock and the atmosphere here was great! Awesome bar, nice staff, great setup and I believe they do live music at night though I could be mistaken. The reason it’s a 3 star though is for the same reason stated by others. The tacos lack flavor and are overpriced, though in comparison to the rest of the area I suppose it’s not unreasonable. There are lots of great restaurants in this spot that lack the atmosphere of this place so it’s great for that purpose, but in terms of food I wouldn’t recommend it.

Stopped in for the first time, it’s a cozy small atmosphere. The margaritas are absolutely delicious. But don’t waste your money on the food. Tacos are bland and essentially flavorless. We tried a few, and were disappointed with them. And for the cost? A rip off. Overall, I’d come back for drinks only- the margs were delicious and made with high quality tequila- but skip the food.

Tinker Taco has the most unique & delicious tacos!! From the first bite you can tell they care deeply about the quality of ingredients being used in each taco. We ordered our tacos, were handed a number for our order, then sat ourselves near the outdoor grill. (If it was a little warmer out, we would have sat by the river as there is ample seating!) Our food was brought to us once it was ready. I ordered one barbacoa, one fish, and one chorizo y papas taco. Each taco was savory and enjoyable in its own way, but my favorite was the fish taco – every bite was crispy & oh-so delicious! I highly recommend giving Tinker Taco a try.

This place is right up my taco alley! James the owner is awesome, friendly, makes awesome margs, and great taco! The whole vibe is fun with lots of space indoor and out, with great music and good-natured staff. Immediately my favorite spot in Woodstock.

A little expensive but amazing tacos. Lots of flavor. Don't be afraid to get more than one because they're a bit small. I love the outdoor seating they have it gives you that Woodstock feel. Also they have a cute stream that you can view right outside the business.

Early Terrible can charge $18 a cocktail. You, under no circumstances, should be allowed to—for a margarita no less. The taco making woman told the teenager taking orders to deliver food before taking our order after we had been waiting for super long. The man and woman bartender were having a passive aggressive argument, which whatever, a tad funny to watch. But contrasted with gut wrenching prices? Literally spent $70 on two cocktails and 3 tacos. That's like one Birkenstock. Let's pull it back a little mate, how about $50? All in all, not an approachable spot. Responding to below: Honestly, if your margaritas were twice the size of a normal cocktail, I'd be fine with the price. IDK, maybe mine was an accident, but the two I had were served in 12 oz glasses w ice obviously. They were really good, but not twice the size of a normal one.

This place serves some of the best tacos I have ever eaten. Trust me when I tell you, I have eaten more than my fair share of tacos. If you're feeling adventurous, I highly recommend the octopus taco...no joke. Tinker Taco is a hidden gem. It's a must for any day trip in Woodstock. Chris@ North East Ford

It was pretty good. The prices were a little steep but the serving size was decent and it was filling. Staff wasn't super friendly but they seemed busy. Had to go into the bar to place my order and then find a table outside which was a little tough given the amount of people there. Overall, tasty food but mid experience - if outside was a little better maintained and they had more of a system to seating I would've enjoyed it more.

This unadorned and small-ish on the inside/big on the outside Woodstock favorite is almost so right, for a few reasons. First, the outside vibe: think spacious bar setting, upbeat tunes, picnic tables+ benches done in black overlooking what's left of the Tannery Brook and staff that bring nice energy. Second, my fish tacos: although they're at a whopping $6.50 for 1- not 2, they were ok in a corn tortilla with a few pieces of crispy+meaty Mahi Mahi and pineapple 'slaw'. I mean...these ladies know what's up when it comes to melt-in-your-mouth tacos. The menu is concise with Pescatarian, Vegan, Vegetarian and meat items. In the past when we'd visit on holidays, I'd always wondered what this place was all about. While I do recognize where I'm at and the fact I'm spending more time on weekends in this town, there are just some things I don't agree with and that's paying $6.50 for a small taco.

We stopped by for lunch and ordered what we thought was comparable to city prices at $16, a spicy watermelon margarita, a tinga taco, and a barbacoa each at over $6. The wife only wanted a margarita, and it tasted refreshing and strong. As far as the tacos, I'm annoyed because, as the lady brought them over to the table, she looked annoyed and was coughing and thankfully not directly on the tacos but close enough. Then she just plopped them on the table. I still ate them because I didn't want to waste the food, and she didn't cough directly on them. They tasted good, and hopefully I won't get sick, but they aren't worth the price.

A tasty healthy lunch on a sunny fall day in Woodstock was what was needed for a break from shopping. Order food & drinks at bar. Grab a seat and they deliver your food to your table. Service was slow but they were quite busy. Relaxing on the picnic tables beside the flowing stream while waiting for our meals was very relaxing. Our street tacos and sides were delicious! If you're looking for a quaint place to dine while taking a break from strolling in Woodstock, this is the place.

I have never been so compelled to write a review to save people from feeling ripped off. I ordered a Barbacoa a taco as a quick snack. There was maybe a tablespoon of what tasted like crockpot roast beef on the taco and even less salsa. I consumed it in 3 bites and every bite was underwhelming. $6.50, outrageously overpriced. The 50 cent taco I got from Jack in the Box when I was recently in CA was a much better taco.

Wow! Love what they have done to the place. Every year better. Multiple bars. Outside seating. Amazing tacos. Great selection of Mexican beers.

Great food but soooooooooo overpriced kind very nice staff. Always a nice place to go on a hot day

Obscenely skimpy tacos. A tablespoon of meat per taco. Cool place, but man they need to up the ante.

The tacos here were pretty good. Well, it was not the best tacos we've had but we are not sure if there is another place nearby that sells tacos. Service was good. Food came out pretty fast. Nice outdoor seating.

Pretty torn whether this place is solid 3 or 4, I'm rounding it up to 4, but here is something to note: Drinks: When it comes to drinks, this place gets a solid 4. Both of our drinks, including bae's non-alcoholic mocktail, were on point and we really enjoyed them. Food: This is where the place fell short, we tried a couple of tacos, and they lacked flavor. For the price, I'd skip food here and just come here for drinks. So pro tip, come here for drinks and head to a second spot for food.

if you love Tacos, stay clear of this place. Ordered several different tacos, and thought food would at the very least, be really good, especially considering their price points. Severely underwhelming, and taste was virtually nonexistent. The ambiance itself rocked, staff was very polite but looked sloppy. Masterful rip off!

This was an unexpected experience in Woodstock, which seems to generally have restaurants with friendly staffing, fair prices, and great food. The carnitas itself was great, but the homemade tortilla was... pretty gross tasting. Kinda reminded me of a this and flexible wasa cracker. I would have tried more but these tacos cost three times what they should, and that kind of gouging around traditionally cheap food bothers me. When I saw the taco prices I didn't even bother going into the bar. It was pretty confusing to figure out where I was supposed to go to order, it's kind of a small compound of outbuildings, and when I got into the right place no one seemed like they took orders, so i just had to stand around for a bit. When I got some service, I asked if they had chips I could get with the side of smashed avocado and he pointed to a line on the menu that said "we don't serve chips". I had to kind of laugh at that one. Um... Why the f*** not?

Does anyone work here? I guess you're supposed to go into one building that seemed like it was the kitchen to order food, and then take it somewhere else to eat it. We went into one building, stood around confused while people just milled around, and left when nobody seemed to be around to help us figure this nonsense out. Maybe they're missing signage to direct the flow of what you're supposed to do to get food or attention. Maybe we're just too stupid to figure out the minotaur's maze of overpriced small-bite high-concept tourist-town eating, but I quickly lost patience with the hipster garbage. Also, fix your drainage; the whole restaurant was surrounded by deep puddles and mud.

DELICIOUS handmade tortillas make theeeee yummiest tacos! Love this place (a tad pricey for tacos) but I do love the fresh ingredients and vegetarian options available. My favorite was the fried avocado taco! Soo good! It was a little light on salt and I do wish there were more spicy sauce options. This place stays really busy and they also have a bar side to them. Individual benches available outside to social distance and very quick service. Really authentic and creative tacos. They're very light and fresh! Bottom line: if you want a quick snack, this is a great spot for it

Great place but closed while owner waits for buyer Tacos ice cream seating bathroom I recommend

If I could do 0 stars I would Absolutely disgusting. The outside is adorable, but when you go inside, the conditions is just gross. You walk in it's about 120°. The service, absolutely horrible, rude, like as if they don't want you there. I asked for two vegetarian tacos. One of them they didn't have, no big deal. So I decided on a different one and asked for no goat cheese. They all about lost their minds. They kept asking if I was allergic, I said no I just don't like goat cheese. & a woman came out from the back yelling and throwing her arm in the air. Yelling tacos come how they come. I totally would've respected that. Had they just told me that like a normal person. But the scene that was made over me asking for no goat cheese was insane.

Food was adequate but not salty or flavorful plus very watery. Service was swift and kind.

My bf and I went to Tinker Taco today and it was honestly so good. Would 10/10 recommend the octopus taco, it was AMAZING. Also the carnitas taco was really great, and the vegan chorizo taco I honestly almost couldn't even tell it was vegan. Everything was good def come here for these tacos. Overall, everything was great but there's only one bartender which creates a bit of a line but it's really not that bad. There's also no chips and guac which is a little weird but whatever. Outside of that, great experience.

6 dollars for a basic 3 dollar taco is not a great value. They put cilantro on the tacos (my bad for not checking) but they made me buy the tacos again as opposed to just hooking it up like most places. Do not recommend.

I had seen this place and it looked like so much fun with cool people hanging out by the water, so I was excited to visit Tinker Taco Lab. I walked in to order and greeted the kitchen staff who were mostly non-responsive. One woman would not look me in the eye and grunted. The other one finally said that someone would be there to take my order shortly. I stood there for 2 LONG minutes and almost walked out. Finally someone came from the other side of the restaurant and asked me what I wanted. I ordered 3 tacos for $5.95 each, vegetarian refried beans ($3) and 2 seltzers for a total of $30.00. I asked for chips for the beans, but was told they don't do chips. Ok. The food comes out and it is so small, I think I missed something. $18 for three small tacos? It said each taco served with house made pickled vegetables, but there were only 3 pieces of vegetable for 3 tacos, so they should say "each taco served with 1 random piece of pickled vegetable". The tortillas had a nice texture and did seem genuinely freshly hand made. The taco fillings were less than impressive. I had grabbed 2 small plastic containers of chipotle sauce inside the restaurant anticipating wanting to add some to my tacos, but we ended up adding the sauce to the COMPLETELY FLAVORLESS refried beans. It was still like eating lumpy wallpaper paste. There was NO SALT added and ZERO flavor. Even the toppings did not help. I know they are vegetarian, but that doesn't mean you can't build flavor in the beans! I left hungry, disappointed and irritated. Overall, I give 1 star for the location near the water, and for the tortillas (plus you can't give zero stars), but that is it. This place thinks it's too cool for it's own britches and does not deserve the praise it has garnered based on what I experienced. It's not a tad pricey, it's outrageous for careless food and rude service.

Stopped through Woodstock downtown and randomly walked by this place. The outside patio looked really cute and the drinks on the menu sounded good so we decided to stay. I went to the bartender to ask about seating since I didn't see a host or a person to ask about dining. The bartender answered my question but you can tell he was extremely overwhelmed. He mentioned it's self seating and you order from the bar for both food & drinks. I felt bad that he was so busy, I assume they are understaffed. The place is pretty big and to have two bartenders on a busy Saturday seems a little unfair to the employees and the customers. My boyfriend and I ordered 2 fish tacos, two chicken tinga tacos and two El Niño tacos. Considering the place was busy, the food came out quickly. The tacos were okay, nothing great. It definitely needed more flavor, I added lots of lime juice and my boyfriend used their hot sauce. The fish and beef taco's definitely had more meat than the chicken. I also ordered a sunset lemon & mango margarita which was delicious. I also loved that everyplace in Woodstock welcomes dogs! There was plenty of space outside to sit and we felt comfortable having the dog with us.

Excellent tacos, especially the fried avocado. The lengua and el nino were great as well.

Amazing and creative cocktails, delicious tacos... but I can only give it three stars for 2 reasons. 1) the tacos are WAY overpriced. Come on man, over $6 for one taco?! As in A singular taco?!... And 2) for a place that advertises their fresh homemade tortillas, you mean to tell me you can't deep fry a couple of those suckers to make some chips?!

Stopped in on a busy Sunday afternoon for a snack. We were a little unclear on how to go about ordering. We got to the bar and waited for the bartender to take our orders. He was very busy and we probably sat at the bar for a good 10 minutes before ordering. We got a range of tacos which came in a fine amount of time. I did appreciate that the tacos were larger than street tacos and ambly filled. However it still felt a little overpriced. I will say that the lengua was the most tender and flavorful I've ever had. Definitely a treat.

These tacos were so delicious!!! I had the fried avocado and the La Niña chicken and they both were so flavorful! The margaritas were top notch! The bartender James made our whole family feel like he was an old friend. His mixologist skills were creative and delicious! I highly recommend you try out this restaurant while in Woodstock. Also James's dog Augi was 10/10 the best dog ever!

Very cool place by the River and mountain back drop view. Tacos and drinks were great. Will come back.

+ Tinker Taco is located in a really cool spot of the town. It is right next to a river that runs through town. And, is adjacent to 3-4 other restaurants. It is situated in a way that makes me think it is an old medieval town. Things aren't build on a straight line, you take an alley to get to the entrance. - A $6 ea. taco. Please see photos. A bit much, don't you think? - white dude ran the restaurant. Two Mexican ladies making the corn tacos. Why are all businesses owned by them fair-skinned folks? Purchased: fried avocado taco + chorizo taco Total: $12

Amazing tacos and even better margaritas!! Fresh tortillas made daily! Try this out..you won't be disappointed!

Lovely taco joint tucked away by a small stream. Try to get here early as they sell out of tacos because their tortillas are freshly made daily. We got lucky and got the last order in on a Sunday before they ran out. I got the barbacoa and tinga de pollo tacos while my boyfriend got the beef tongue and chorizo tacos. The barbacoa was a favorite as the beef was very tender and fatty and paired well with the mango salsa. The chicken was a bit bland for me. The chorizo and beef tongue were both really good! We also shared an order of refried beans which was very fresh and delicious. Great outdoor seating and well spaced for social distancing. They also have an adorable dog that hangs out in the window.

Hiked all day in the Catskills Mountains & these tacos were sent from heaven. Absolutely delicious! I got the Tinga De Pollo, Carnitas & El Vegetal Tacos. The Tinga De Pollo taco was "chef's kiss" and I wish that's all I got. I tried to convince myself I was healthier than I was when I ordered the El Vegetal- this taco was not for me. The cornmeal crusted pablano was not my cup of tea but will definitely be for the vegetarians out there. Outdoor dining was confusing- we weren't quite sure where to order. The server was dashing everywhere to serve everyone so it took a bit to get direction on where to get the hot sauces. Hot sauces are inside, by the way. She was doing her best! Seriously the cutest little taco spot and the outdoor seating entrance was hidden down an alleyway but we loved it.

This taco spot was just a little slice of heaven. After a 2 hour drive up to the area we went straight to Tinker Taco Lab. They had a ton of outdoor picnic tables and even with a pup, we didn't feel like we were crowded at all. I got two of the mahi-mahi tacos because I would just about pick a fish taco over everything else in the world. They were delicious! Such a generous portion of fish, amazing sauce and a little spicy so it had a good kick. I was full after just 2. At $6~ each, it was a pretty affordable lunch. A few orders came out just as it was starting to rain and right before the sky literally broke in half and let out a 10 minute monsoon. They took back the wet tacos and brought out perfectly dry ones a few minutes later. We sat happily on the picnic table in soaking wet clothes eating our amazing tacos. Happy as clams. A little COVID ordering update: You order at the bar (basically only one person or party goes into the actual space to order at a time and people were pretty good about socially distancing in line). Even though the line wasn't long, it took a very long time to get through. The bartender was making drinks for people as they ordered them as well as putting in food orders, so it did take awhile. It was a bit frustrating how slow it moved but I understand they are probably short staffed. Plus, the amazing tacos were well worth any wait. Loved this place so much!

This is my absolute favorite Friday lunch spot, but it is great any time (its hours are very limited so please check before visiting!). If you are not in the mood for tacos, don't come here, and do not expect tex mex. There won't be chips and salsa flowing, nor do they have guacamole or nachos or other mexican-american fare. What they do have is excellent tacos from scratch (make their corn tortillas from scratch along with all the other ingredients), great options for carnivores and vegans alike, terrific from scratch beans as a side (I often order that, a smashed avocado, and a side of tortillas as a meal). The homemade hot sauces, both red and green, are wonderful. And you won't find better tequila or mezcal drinks anywhere in town. My personal favorites are the vegan chorizo taco, and the crushed chipotle margarita. The ambience is amazing on a pretty day, and it's dog friendly. I always sit at the bar, and the service is consistently solid. Highly recommend!!

This is the place to eat if you are in Woodstock with a dog. They have both outside tables and covered outside tables that are dog friendly. Very nice staff and good drinks. The issue is the price is a bit high and the tacos are not great. My table had a mix of what was available and only one was a hit. I personally had the Poblano taco and another vegetarian taco, both had a similar flavor and left me still hungry. I would say bring fido here for a martini (or two) and then get your chow somewhere else.

Plenty of outdoor seating, delicious cocktails, slightly cheaper than Manhattan prices, and mixed results on the mask wearing. Tinker Taco is located in downtown Woodstock and has lots of space. We grabbed a picnic table and ordered some cocktails ($14ish). A few staff members who weren't preparing drinks/food were hanging around without masks. Overall, everyone was really good about distance and masks. Plenty of distance among the tables. Cocktails were delicious, would highly recommend. We didn't get any food.

A little of the main drag but a stupendous spot! Stopped by the Tinker Bar for a few drinks, ended up getting some food as well! When I say these bartenders know their stuff, I'm not lying at all. I'm not even a big Mezcal drinkers, but the Smoke and Mirrors cocktail was so delicious! Ended up getting two...the bartender was so nice and really attentive as well. The shishito peppers were a yummy appetizer for the delicious tacos! The pork and beef were SO good. They had delicious tortillas and a perfect blend of salsas and sauces. Really blown away by them. I would for sure recommend this place as it was close to a creek, had nice outdoor seating, and seemed to be a great local spot with delicious drinks!

Cool little taco place. When we moved to Woodstock I was very excited to see a taco joint in town. The alchemy of flavors and ingredients on the menu is as good as it got, unfortunately. Over the course of a year and three visits to TTL, I tried all vegetarian options and my husband and/or friends tried everything else. Some stuff was okay, most were "eh," and the vegetarian fried beans were a crime, as a Mexican woman, I was both horrified and offended. LOL. I give TTL one star for the vibe and one star for effort.

Overpriced tourist trap it's not worth any of the money ! Food is just not good! they got me once but never again and I hope I save someone else from wasting the money

So so so so delicious. The food was great and there was an amazing view outside! It is outdoor seating only but it was a great night for us to do it.

Well the place is cool and all, but how can you dare serving such small tacos and charge 6$ for that? In NYC you'll pay 3.5 for a much higher quantity and quality. Location 5/5 People 4/5 Food quality 2.5/5 Food quantity 1/5

Saddest fish taco I've ever had - especially for the $6.50 price. Outside seating is nice, though, in the shade by the creek.

Ok being from the West Coast You must understand Frank knows his tacos. So I mosey into this place thinking there's a possibility I could munch on some chips & salsa, a few tacos & beer. Needless to say say I kinda got what I wanted maybe. The menu was kinda limited from a taco standpoint. No chips & salas if you can believe that. How hard is to dice up some Tomatoes, red onion, cilantro and splash some fresh squeezed lime on it. It's the staple of any taco joint man. My carnitas taco was so so, and this kinda get a thumbs up, but the tamale was downright nasty. Barely any meat and zero taste for my tongue. Now I did get a beer so that's a plus. Some booze to kill the pain for paying for this meal. People if you wanna run a taco joint change up a few things.

This place has the greatest outdoor setting to enjoy some tacos in! Tacos are very tasty as well. I recommend getting any tacos that have meat in them as those definitely had the most flavor compared to the vegetarian options.

I'm amazing find! Completely worth driving all the way from New York City. I had fried avocado tacos and they were delicious. My husband enjoyed his meal as well. The bar patrons were queuing up for seconds, which means the drinks were worth standing in the line. The restaurant insisted on social distancing, the toilets were clean and the staff was meticulous about wiping down the tables after each customer.

Best fish taco I have ever had! This location is perfect , off the grid a little and so chic and cute with amazing Spanish music, I rarely score anything over a 10 ( from a 1-10 scale ; 10 being the best) this was like a 12! I thought it was so good I got two more , I think it's a must go even if it's for alittle.

It's the best in Woodstock area, has a reputation having been here for many years, and the food is very authentic! A real treat!

Perfect little taco place. Everything was delicious vegan and non vegan options Outstanding tacos and cocktails great service

The chicken taco was one of the best tacos I've ever had and I've definitely had my fair share. Would come back again!

We were excited to try this place after not being able to the previous trips to the area. We won't be back. The food was ok but quite overpriced (this coming from someone who lives in one of the most expensive cities in the world). The bartender was keen to serve the young women in spandex while ignoring my fiance and friend who went up to buy the drinks. I bussed our entire table while my friends and fiance were waiting at the bar. Our food came out missing my two fish tacos. When I asked for help in tracking it down the server told me my taco was there. It wasn't, she was pointing to my friends order. She genuinely seemed unhappy and not willing to help the few interactions we had. I walked back to the kitchen with her to ask about it. My tacos came out shortly thereafter. In summary, the service was 2 stars at best, food 2-3 stars, drinks 3 stars and a bit watered down. Our experience was concluded perfectly by a dog (apparently owned by someone who works there) taking a dump and covering it up in the bushes next to our table with no one around to pick it up.

Really cute and intimate setting with outdoor seating. A little off the beaten path because it's tucked behind. Also amazingly cute dog who greets you! Tacos were really good. I know it's covid-19 but I thought it strange you close during dinner hours. People were being declined entry because you were closing at 6:30. In fact, the whole town does not just you. I do see your hours reflect 6 or 7 now but everyone else says a later time but I don't see any mandated laws and it wasn't slow on a busy Sunday night. There were a lot of tourists on a nice fall day. I can understand 8 but 6 was confusing and very strange..it was a complete ghost town when we walked back to our car. It's really sad. I'm also from a small town and have never seen anything like that before where restaurants were eagerly closing at dinner time.