Taco N Madre - Two Peppers
This restaurant with a baffling name is only slightly larger than a taco stand, but the food is excellent. They use cilantro instead of iceberg lettuce, steak instead of ground beef, flavorful rice, and their own horchada. They also have a cooler of imported Mexican soft drinks.
They offer two sauces - green and red. Green is like a tomatilla with a fresh, tangy flavor. Red has a rich, smoky flavor. Both have plenty of heat. Gringos, go sparingly your first time, but try both. Over due pregnant women, pour on both until the baby kicks his way out.
The servers are friendly and prompt, which makes up for the quaint atmosphere. It’s cramped, warm when busy, and sparsely decorated with sombreros or other such wall hanging. The seats are sturdy Formica and hold up well to the construction crews that frequent here. The TV suspended in the corner let’s you catch up on your daytime Spanish soap opera or cheer for the soccer game on Sunday afternoons.
Speaking of Sunday, that’s the best time to try their signature dishes of an untypical cactus or a whole fish that’s deep-fried for a crunchy crust and flaky, tender middle.
Taco N Madre is a great place for a quick lunch with a friend or coworker. It’s close to downtown, across from the court house. No chips or salsa here, but it was 5th visit before I noticed. I order to go and eat at the office.
Best Item: Quesadilla, perhaps the best in town.
Worst Item: Sopes, great for healthy eaters. I prefer the flat tortilla.
Location:
80 NW Pine Ave
Ocala, FL 34475
I knew sooner or later someone would ask, “what about Taco Bell?” So, let’s get it out of the way. Basically this is the bottom of the barrel when it comes to authentic Mexican food. Most of the menu items do not have Mexican names. The only reason you should eat here is because there are no other Mexican restaurants within walking distance or (if you have a car) you don’t have enough time to sit down for a meal.