Friday, March 10, 2017

Calavera Empanada & Tequila Bar


Located at 370 East Main Street in Carrboro, Calavera Empanada and Tequila Bar features empanadas, nachos, tequilas, and cocktails. The restaurant is open from 11:30 a.m. (noon on weekends) until 2 a.m. seven days a week. Limited outdoor seating is available as are vegetarian options.

My wife and I have enjoyed our visits to Calavera’s sister restaurant, the neighboring meatball Shoppe, so we were looking forward to seeing what the other side of the door had to offer. In terms of variety, décor, and service, Calavera did not disappoint, but unfortunately, the food could not keep pace.

Aesthetically, Calavera makes quite an impression. The light-laden red walls, stars hanging from the ceiling, and tropical-printed tabletops add vibrancy without gaudiness. This visual appeal is matched by an enticing menu. While there are a few apps (street corn and two kinds of guacamole) and nachos, empanadas are the star. The fillings range from traditional to vegetarian to Southern-style, and at $3.50 a piece, the pricing is certainly reasonable (at least as far as the empanadas go – the same cannot be said for ambitiously priced $9 margaritas).

The execution, however, proved to be uneven. The four empanadas that my wife and I shared arrived golden brown and accompanied by red and green salsas. So far, so good. The style of empanada here is thick and a bit doughy, good for keeping everything together but a shock if you are expecting a lighter, flakier offering. The fillings varied considerably. The pineapple in the Al Pastor (marinated pork) delivered a welcome citrus note, and the braised mushroom blend (Portobello, shitake, and cremini) in The Champ was wonderfully earthy. On the other hand, the Picadillo (ground beef, potato, onion, and tomato) proved to be rather salty.




The bartender on duty for our visit proved to be an excellent server, keeping watch over tables inside and out and answering questions with ease. He even talked us into a dessert empanada, the King of Kong (a banana and Nutella filled empanada with sweet cream), which proved to be delectably sweet.

All told, Calavera is a fun spot that is well worth trying for a light bite or a drink, but the food could benefit from more consistency.


7.75/10

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