Greatness can be achieved by sticking to the fundamentals: just ask John Stockton, who never bypassed an easy layup for a dunk, and always bypassed an easy lay for a night home with Mrs. Stockton. Taking an unwavering path to glory, TNT Tacos and Tequila.Opening Monday from a group that's been helming SW'ern joints for 20+ years, this pine-floored firewatering hole serves a short list of grilled-to-order tortilla fillers and a long list of tequilas, either along an open kitchen counter, in booths, or at community tables and a concrete bartop lorded over by a rebar liquor cage, giving a worms-eye view of Anejo the Giant vs. the Ultimate Wabo-rior. Gut destroyers come in the form of tacos, skewers, burritos, and salads, with your choice of meats like chile pepper-basted steak, ranchera-sauced pulled pork, and coriander/cumin-marinated, corn-crusted chicken; or go for the gills with selections like recado rojo seasoned shrimp, red chile-rubbed salmon, or ginger-glazed mahi mahi, served with a side of furiously jealous...Mr. Howell? Meanwhile, the 80+ tequilas (including 4 from a literally frozen tap) are served in shots, flights w/sangrita chaser, or cocktails like the Modern Paloma (Gran Centenario, ruby red g-fruit, lime juice) and the Cazadores Reposado/ caramelized simple syrup/ tamarind nectar Dirty Margarita, though can't a 21st Century flower give out a little nectar without being labeled "Dirty"? Veering somewhat from the stick-to-the-basics formula is a wall of flat screens playing an ever-changing batch of shorts curated by local filmmakers; there's also live music on Thursday nights, and DJ'd Sunday brunches -- which you'll hopefully attend with whoever you're in a fundamentally sound relationship with, and not Karl Alone.
