crafted the art of the taco

id come back. i had an overall great experience for lunch at crafted today. first time and the servers were really helpful and attentive (might have helped that i was fairly early). i like that you can mix and match the tacos because i wanted to try 2 different types. i chose the members only (duck confit) and the wayfarer (pulled pork) with a side of chips and salsa. the duck confit was excellent. i would order it again, really excellent flavor. the pulled pork was good, but not great. id try other flavors next time. i really enjoyed the salsa and the waitress warned me it was mild and was happy to bring me hot sauce to liven it up a bit. good flavor, you could tell it wasmadefresh. i wasnt "full" but i think most americans have a skewed idea of what "full" should be. i wasnt hungry, so while its not "cheap" its what i would expect to pay for high-er end food.

totally unimpessed. service was pretty good but that's the only positive thing i can say. even if dinner had been given to me, that would not havemadeit any better. never ever going back.

still a lot of potential, but.......... well, i finallymadeit back here for lunch with a friend who had not eaten here before & was anxious to try out the food. we started with the mason of bacon ($7.95), and it wasn't quite what i'd hoped. i guess i was expecting the bacon to be more coated in caramel, but it was very lightly covered., and the dipping sauce was ok, but rather thin.

i tried 2 tacos ($8.95 with a side) - the beer battered fish and a braised beef - both the "mercanized" versions. the fish taco was solid, nice fish flavor, but there is no real zip to the taco, and i was surprised to find that there no longer is hot sauce on the tables. the braised beef was just ok, suffering from the same lack of a real taste explosion. the salsa & chips side was also just ok - not a big fan of the thicker chip, and don't care for cold salsa.

my friend had the big truck tacos ($8.95) with ffs. he found the tacos much as i did, ok but not particularly exciting to the taste buds. the ffs as always were exceptional - i love the hint of cumin, along with the salt & pepper.

the service was exceptional, friendly, efficient, & knowledgeable. this place remains very popular - when we left about 12:30, there were probably 12 to 15 people waiting for tables. my personal sense of this place remains pretty much the same as after my first visit - the food is ok, just misses being exceptional, the flavors more muted than exciting. the atmosphere is not particularly relaxing to me, in the comfort of the seating, and in the noise level. i'll probably return here from time to time, but a regular stop isn't likely. others will likely have a different view.

everything about the place was artistic and rustic. i loved the lighting, which set a mood thatmadeit feel spacious and comfortable. the art in the dining room alsomadeit upbeat, combined with the conversations - everything was very alive.

the food, atmosphere and craft beer selection make this small hole in the wall a must for anyone in the triad area. the fusion of simple flavors like grilled pineapple and brisket compliment a sweet chili aioli beautifully in one of their 6 signature tacos (also available in burrito size). and freshlymadesweet potato chip nachos are a must for people looking for something sweet, savory and cheap. the freshness of ingridents and works i art that emerge from the kitchen are well worth the drive.

allergen friendly!. i am gluten and dairy intolerant, so eating tacos for the past three years has been impossible. crafted uses corn tortillas on all their tacos and most everything can bemadegf and even vegan! they are very accommodating and don't charge extra for vegan cheese, housemadecorn chips, or for subbing in chofu (tofu chorizo). i have had a great experience every time i'm here because i know i will be getting something suited to my dietary needs. very friendly wait staff and very knowledgeable as well! they also have gf beer!

falafels ftw!!!!. i said i would go back and give this place another shot and i did. my fiancé really wanted to try it out and i must say that this time around i loved what i ordered! the special for today were the falafel tacos and theywere delicious! i really hope they make it to the full menu, because they were worth it. they were the perfect consistency with a nice crunch on the outside! my fiancé had some with chorizo (which i tried last time) and they were just ok. i also highly recommend the stuffed avocado appetizer.


-----30 nov, 2012-----

ehhh just ok. maybe i had high expectations, but everything was just so-so. actually, now that i think about it, everything was slightly off. the flavor character of all the dishes were too unbalanced. for example, the housemadeketchup tasted like pure vinegar, the veggie soup was so salty, the taquitos appetizer were drenched in a creamy banana-ish sauce that was way too heavy and the side of beans were grainy and bland. i wanted to love crafted, and honestly, i'll probably give them another shot, maybe it was just an "off" day. the display was fantastic, though. everything looked great, unfortunately the flavors weren't quite there yet.

something new & different. very good lunch today! impressed by the array of vegan tacos, sides, & condiments. most everything seems to bemadein-house (great hot sauces!) service is polished & quick, & the atmosphere is just right...they are opening for dinner now so go check it out!