Hockley restaurants: Mexican specialist Taquero due to open doors in coming weeks

The run of exciting new arrivals to Hockley is set to continue with the opening of a Mexican taco restaurant in a prominent spot in the foodie quarter.

Mexican specialist Taquero is due to open its doors in the coming weeks, promising classic dishes such as tostadas, empanadas, and a rich selection of tacos.

The concept is the vision of the team behind the renowned Bar Iberico and Iberico World Tapas restaurants in Hockley and the Lace Market, two of Nottingham’s top dining destinations.

Owner and operator Dan Lindsay has said that the new restaurant will plug a “big gap in the market” for Mexican food in Nottingham, which most people tend to associate with burritos and nachos, rather than the more exciting specialist tacos and tostadas Taquero will serve.

He said: “It will be quite a simple offering. We’re essentially opening a taqueria [Spanish for a taco restaurant].

“It will be food-led but we want to make a good focus on the drinks as well. We will serve lots of margherita, mescal and tequila cocktails.”

Lindsay had been mulling the idea for over two years when the perfect opportunity came up with the departure of the Oriental Mart supermarket at 6-8 Heathcoat Street.

The closure of the supermarket opened the door to the site he had been looking for, and having taken over the lease in, Lindsay began making plans for the new venture.

“We love the street and we love that building,” he said. “Hockley is very vibrant.”

Lindsay said that it has been a major project, which he has personally led, including the design work.

He said: “The look will be very much stripped back, with lots of plants, and an earthy tone.”

As part of his research Lindsay travelled to Mexico in January, gaining inspiration from restaurants in Mexico City and, in his words, the “food capital” of the country, Wahaca.

Those plans are now reaching fruition, and Taquero is set to open to customers in November.

When Taquero opens it will be the latest in a wave of new restaurants and cafes to take their place not only in Hockley, but on what’s becoming the new rising star of the scene, Heathcoat Street.

As we revealed last month, coffee shop and bakery Effy is in the process of relocating to a site at 18 Heathcoat Street from its present location on Hounds Gate. And that came just before the news that a new Chinese restaurant and noodle bar, Hey!Chilli, was to open just over the road at no.17. Hey!Chilli is now up-and-running on the site.