Street tacos and scratch margs in Uptown

Tacos at Nico's Tacos & Tequila Bar in Uptown, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Drew Wood
Drew Wood

Great tacos are nothing foreign to the Twin Cities -- er, actually, that's exactly what they are -- but you mighta noticed that they're pretty much non-existent in Uptown. Thanks to the Hennepin Ave Victorian house-turned-resto (it was previously Duplex and Birdhouse) being reborn as Nico's Taco & Tequila Bar, that's no longer the case.

Exterior of Nico's Tacos & Tequila Bar in Uptown, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Drew Wood

That double-decker's Nico's. It's owned by the fam behind Amore Victoria down the street. But it's not Italian food... it's tacos.

Tacos al pastor at Nico's Taco & Tequila Bar in Uptown, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Drew Wood

Since they're keen on uber-authenticity, all the tortillas are purchased fresh daily at La Perla on Bloomington and Lake. In this dish, a couple La Perlas are holding court with a mound of al pastor that's Godly in its tenderness.

Pollo de Tinga tacos at Nico's Taco & Tequila Bar in Uptown, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Drew Wood

The key to the just-spicy-enough Pollo de Tinga is love the secret recipe red sauce the chicken is stewed in.

Barbacoa tacos at Nico's Taco & Tequila Bar in Uptown, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Drew Wood

The taco menu also includes fish, shrimp, carnitas, "Nopales" (cactus!), and, of course, straight barbacoa, homie.

Chips and guacamole at Nico's Taco & Tequila Bar in Uptown, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Drew Wood

Chips and guac are just the tip of the non-taco iceberg, as Nico's also has BACON GUAC, plus meat and seafood burritos, tostadas, and a four-item scratch salsa menu.

Stairway at Nico's Taco & Tequila Bar in Uptown, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Drew Wood

Right this way to the bar.

Tequila bar at Nico's Taco & Tequila Bar in Uptown, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Drew Wood

And what a tremendously tequila-teeming bar it is.

La Granada Margarita at Nico's Taco & Tequila Bar in Uptown, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Drew Wood

The GM/parter was formerly a hot-shot drink-slinger in Vegas, so his margs are no joke. Seriously. Just try laughing at that the La Granada (Cabrito blanco, blood orange, pomegranate, yuze, and scratch sweet/sour), and it will cut you.

House margarita at Nico's Taco & Tequila bar in Uptown, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Drew Wood

In a resto that's actually in a one-time home, the idea of the La Casita Margarita (house marg) takes on a whole new level of significance.

Tap lines at Nico's Taco & Tequila Bar in Uptown, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Drew Wood

Not a tequila guy? They've also got a mix of Mexi and crafty taps, including Sculpin IPA from San Diego's Ballast Point Brewing. The brewery's beers've just begun to be distributed in the Twin Cities, making them about as foreign to Uptown as a traditional taco.