Are you a Mexi-can or a Mexi-can't?

My neighborhood is hip... hip as a coccyx, I don't care what anyone says Capitol Hill is the backbone and dopest neighborhood in the city.  There has been more business opening in Capitol Hill over the last year than I can keep track of and it appears savvy business owners are well aware of this fact; though they may misjudge their potential clientele.  It's only fitting that the owners of Fonte' and Bastille took a trip out of Seattle's ass-crack and taint to make some REAL DOUGH.   Because of the success of Bastille, I more or less neglected my better judgement telling me that visiting a restaurant on opening day was a bad idea (especially after being on the line of a few restaurants opening days... I'd vote such experiences as one of the main contributors to WA State's sky high suicide numbers.)  Thankfully, I was not disappointed and their first day jitters weren't particularly noticeable.

Poquitos on 10th and Pike, I need more tacos (Jake Vorono)

First and Foremost, the space is gorgeous, a corner location ANY restaurant owner would kill for... if they had the quarter million to invest in renovations.   Hand-laid traditional Mexican tiles dance the Jalisco alongside comfortable wood-booths and a bar fitted elegantly with wrought iron lamp posts.  I posted up at the bar and noticed many hillebrities: one who can be frequently found at various capitol hill locations at any given moment (PROPS TO CAP TO THE HILL),  most likely coming to see if Poquitos was worth christening with their hipness.  Sadly, the on tap beer choices were slightly "womp-womp" but, their bottle list (although it was not printed, nor was the tequila/mezcal list; this was a major let down considering its scope) was extensive and stacked with shit you can only get south of the border.  However upon perusing the menu and chatting with Kevin the super knowledgeable and friendly bar-tender I saw mole tamales and for me there is nothing like a Negra Modelo to wash down the spicy, dark, smoky chocolate flavor of a stellar mole sauce, $5.  

Mole and Chicken Banana Leaf Wrapped Tamale (Jake Vorono)

The tamale came out in a cute and sizzling hot cast iron dish, it instantly made my mouth water and sadly set me up for a bit of a let down.  Everything about the appearance, auditory experience and beer partnership made me want to love this tamale but, I didn't.  I actually wished I was 2 doors down at Rancho Bravo spending half the change on a their meatier and tastier rendition.  I honestly don't think I had any bite that was noticeably chicken.  Furthermore, there is a reason tamales are served wrapped in a vessel, whether steamed of baked the wrapper helps to maintain moisture and flavor (a veritable south of the border sous-vide, if you will).  This tamale came beautifully unwrapped, topped with a stellar sauce and cotija queso... but bone dry.  Even after basting the entire tamale with sauce, there was crusty edge pieces that I'm still picking out of my teeth as I write this.  I would however pay $5 just to drink a glass of the mole, it was velvety, smooth and smoky with JUST enough cocoa flavor to round it out like a fly latina booty.

Tacos Al Pastor, pineapple and onion by Jake Vorono

After my tamale, I was still hungry for more... I actually just wanted to drink more too so I needed a bite to keep me out of black out land.  The homie Chris is a cook at Poquitos, he was also a member of the mass exodus @ 5 Corner Market in Ballard, they don't get a link because they don't deserve it.  Chris pointed me in the direction of the Al Pastor tacos, $8 for 3 tacos covered in Carlton Farms Pork (this is my shit.... mmmmmm), pineapple, caramelized onions and cilantro.  The pork was fantastic, like little bites of crispy bacon but, somehow still juicy and multi-faceted.  They may want to work on uniformity in the size of the meat chunks though, some pieces were pure carcinogenic crispities.  Any detectable fattiness was washed away by the bright acidity of the pineapple and a squeeze of fresh Mexican lime.  I originally thought $8 was a bit wild for tacos but, you do get 3 and the quality is incomparable to most tacos in the city.  Shit, just consider 3 tacos at Tacos Gringos would be $6 and completely unsatisfying.  Side note; if Poquitos forces someone out of business I hope it's them; that place sucks.

To wash down the tacos I ordered a Pacifico (although I was served a Sol, oops, no worries still good) and this is when I discovered they had not yet printed their Tequila/Mezcal list (first real day, I can't really bitch).  I especially couldn't bitch about the lack of a physical list because I was lucky enough to be introduced to the owner who knew his shit!  He pointed me towards a Mezcal, El Zacatecano Anejo produced by Seattle's own legend (one of the few reasons I EVER liked Seattle Mariner Baseball) Edgar Martinez.

I must say, I was fearful we had another Barrio moving in to the hood but, Poquitos price point, flavor and ambiance trump Barrio and frankly even might compete with Ranch Bravo for my drunken Capitol Hill munching once they really get rolling.  Poquito's is a welcome addition to a hot hood (even if i does attract some Belltown-eque clientele).  They absolutely Mexi-can make some great food and the space shows they know how to keep guests coming.  

Boner Killers:

1. The deck is not yet open
2. No printed drinks list (way too many options to not let me read them)
3. THEY HALTED LUNCH SERVICE TEMPORARILY