Pinecrest Plaza is next destination of hip taqueria + tequila bar
Taco Rock by Chef Mike Cordero will add a second location in early December, opening at the Pinecrest Plaza shopping center in Alexandria. Once home of a 2,500 square-foot retail shop, the space has been redesigned as Taco Rock-Alexandria, the new outpost of the popular taqueria and tequila bar.
The restaurant will be operated by Team Cordero—Cordero and sons, Nick and Anthony, in addition to Chef Stefano Marzano of Mighty Meals. Taco Rock Alexandria becomes the ninth restaurant for Chef Cordero in the Northern Virginia Region.
Updated: Taco Rock 2 now open at Pinecrest Plaza
The space will sport 20 bar stools around the tequila bar and seat 75. A large garage door leads the way to the outside patio, which seats 48. Taco Rock specializes in adventuresome takes on tacos, prepared on housemade Blue Rock Tortillas. The Pinecrest Plaza location will serve up specialty cocktails and imported Mexican beer options, in similar fashion to what’s happening at the Rosslyn Taco Rock restaurant.
Select classic and specialty tacos include Al Pastor, with achiote marinated pork shoulder, sliced char-grilled pineapple, jalapeno salsa & red pickled onions; Lengua, with beef tongue braised, salsa verde and freno peppers; Puffy Beef Taco, which includes seasoned ground beef, melted queso, jalapenos, Monterey jack cheese, sour cream; and frito lay; the Birria Taco, with braised beef, melted cheese, onion, cilantro, guacamole, and beef consume for dipping; and the Taco Double Duce, combining double stacked steak & chicken, salsa verde, lettuce, pico de gallo, black beans, and chipotle cream sauce.
Between taco servings, save room for dessert. The restaurant will offer crispy stuffed churros, prepared with an assortment of cream fillings, as well as made-to-order gourmet ice cream tacos.
New York-area designer Yvette Irene has reimagined the Alexandria space and converted it into a hip, cool destination with rock-and-roll themes, emulating the Rosslyn Taco Rock. “…the restaurant also presents a rustic contemporary palette featuring reclaimed wood, an aged quilted copper bar face and pitted tile. Industrial chandeliers showcasing graffiti street art line the interiors of the metal shades and matching scones adorn the blue tiled columns,” according to a Team Cordero announcement.
Expect to see a fair amount of Taco Rock’s red and black colors, which are also on the faux cobra-skin banquets and accent guitar strings that flank the bar. Dochter & Alexander Retail Advisors represented Team Cordero as it negotiated with Edens and signed the 20-year lease agreement.
Taco Rock at Pinecrest Plaza, 6548 Little River Turnpike, Alexandria, VA 22312
About the publisher.