The long-awaited Kavas Tacos + Tequila has finally opened at Pointe Orlando from the folks who brought you Taverna Opa, also at the Pointe, and Tapa Toro at Icon Park. With Kavas, they add Tex-Mex and Mexican street foods to their portfolio of Greek and Spanish cuisines.
The atmosphere at Kavas is lively, along the lines of Taverna Opa but without all the napkin tossing. And whereas Opa has belly dancing and Tapa Toro flamenco, Kavas has the occasional performance of a fire dancer.
My dining companions and I were served crisp tortilla chips and salsa when we were seated, and we ordered some guacamole, too. The guac is free of extraneous ingredients, letting the avocado, nicely lumpy, shine through.
I also got an order of beef empanadas, pillowy pockets filled with seasoned meat and drizzled with guacamole, jalapeño aioli and salsa.
One of my guests had the chicken enchiladas, corn tortillas wrapped around shredded meat and topped with melted cheeses. Different from other enchiladas I’ve seen, it wasn’t drowning in sauce. It was served with Mexican rice and black beans.
Another companion had an assortment of tacos, most served in griddled flour tortillas and packed with the appropriate protein. I especially liked the fish, battered strips fried and topped with cabbage slaw and mango salsa. The carnitas was good, too, served in a corn tortilla with spicy salsa and cotija cheese.
The roast pork was plentiful in my bowl of pozole, too. I was delighted to see pozole on the menu – it’s hard to find around here – and I wasn’t disappointed with it. The big, chewy hominy were in a stew with creamy pepita sauce and decorated with crema.
I should mention that Kavas makes a mean margarita, too. I had the Spicy, made with Tanteo Jalapeño Tequila, Lime, Agave and Tajín seasonings on the rim. Quite refreshing.
The restaurant is sizable, it occupies the spaces held by a few former storefronts, including a sushi bar and Johnny Rockets. The decor is colorful and vibrant – it’s amenable to having a good time, which is what my friends and I had.
Kavas Tacos + Tequila is at Pointe Orlando, 9101 International Drive, Orlando (map). It is open for dinner daily. The phone number is 407-776-2027.
