Successful restaurants that started in Metairie often make the jump to New Orleans with a bigger, bolder approach — and Tacos Del Cartel is the latest search restaurant to set its sights on a flagship location in the Crescent City.
In fact, co-owner Danny Cruz recently told What Now New Orleans that he’s planning a much greater expansion, with open another location set to open soon in Palm Beach, Florida. The New Orleans location is planned for the outskirts of the Central Business District, at 1010 Girod St. It is currently under construction.
“Metairie been wonderful for three years,” Cruz said. “We have a lot of repeat customers and that’s a big reason why we decided to expand with new locations.”
As part of plans for greater expansion, Tacos Del Cartel is in the midst of a rebrand and the planned New Orleans location is essentially the cornerstone of the initial expansion. Cruz said the new location will have the same tacos that made the first location popular, but it will have an expanded menu that features other Tex-Mex classics, like enchiladas and tostadas. He added that the restaurant itself will be a destination, with Tex-Mex decor, tropical trees, a large bar and a big patio. Cruz described it as a destination for New Orleans Saints and Pelicans fans, but also for tourists in downtown New Orleans.
“We’re working to create something even better than what we have in Metairie for downtown New Orleans,” he said. “We’re working on making Tacos Del Cartel the best restaurant in the city.”
