Tacos of the Town

Main dining area.

    Have you ever felt like when you go somewhere new for the first time that you were meant to be there? Well when you step into Fourth Taco for the first time you get a sense of comfort that makes it seem like you are welcomed here with open arms. The cozy lights dangling down the ceiling, the multi-colored streams shining across the area, and the huge red brick walls that cover the restaurant all play a role into how this restaurant makes you want to stay. The staff that are apart of this restaurant want to get to know you and treat you like family whether you have only been there once or multiple times. Even if you don't think you're special or stand out, these wonderful people will remember you for who you are as a person. The people that come here often sometimes just come for drinks instead of the food because it's not only about the food, but the people that you meet while being there. The people here have a wonderful time laughing together and getting to know each other bit by bit whether it is 11 AM in the morning or 10 PM at night.

Aesthetically pleasing bar scenery.

    When meeting Kate the Front House Manager of the establishment for the first time you see that huge smile on her face wanting to welcome everyone she sees coming in whether it's waving at them or stirring up a conversation. She dresses casually with dark blue jeans and a long sleeve black shirt. This makes people feel relaxed and invited. She has a gentle voice that is intriguing when stirring up conversation. Kate came to Fourth Taco in 2022 to work for the 3 brothers who own the restaurant. The owners wanted her assistance with the bar since she has excellent experience in that area of work. It's crazy to believe that this place once started out as a food truck business at the Bloomsburg fair after the lockdown happened which occurred over 5 years ago has now become the towns hotspot. All of this was taken into effect due to one of the brothers, Tanner, who went to Philly to intern under talented chefs since he had a passion for cooking. Tanner had a vision to create a space to eat at that was unique compared to other Hispanic restaurants in which he combined both Hispanic and Asian techniques to make what is now Fourth Taco. Each dish at this restaurant is made fresh daily, with barely any prepackaged foods. The owners put their heart and soul into making sure that the meals are consistent with every bite and sip of drink that their customers have. To add on to the creation of this establishment the manager at one point exclaims, "We don't claim to be authentic in anyway, I think there are a lot of places where you can go get authentic Mexican food in the area. We have a fusion take on tacos, so I think are menu is a bit different." That sets them apart from other venues, Fourth Taco does not criticize other restaurants for how they run their businesses, and even encouraging customers to go try their food. They want to bring different cultures into their recipes which goes to show how bringing together other ethnicities can turn into a menu that has a variety of spectacular dishes.

Best meals come from small places.

    Whether you're a server, cook, or busser, there will always be one experience that you will never forget, no matter how much time passes. As for Fourth Taco, that moment was on Cinco De Mayo of this year, which fell on a Tuesday. Coincidentally, their tacos are inexpensive on Tuesdays for Taco Tuesday. It became so busy in the place that Fourth Taco had to close early instead of staying open until 10 PM. The amount of running around, screaming, confusion, and headaches that came from that day will always be remembered by every staff member there. On average they cook 7,000 birria tacos every month, so you can only imagine how much they ran through on Cinco De Mayo alone since they ended up running out of food eventually. Furthermore, the birria tacos are Fourth Taco's most popular cuisine as well as the old fashion margaritas being an extremely well-liked drink, which have freshly squeezed juice. Tanner's choices when creating the menu became a game changer for Fourth Taco, since these popular dishes sell out fast. The biggest contributors to making their business run all day and night are the college students, especially on Taco Tuesdays when tacos are at a lower-cost.     As much as the community helps out with this business a ton, Fourth Taco wants to give back to show their support through non-profit organizations. Kate inquires at one point "We really take pride in being a big part of our community, we do a lot of dine-to-donates for university programs. Many organizations participate in a dine-to-donate in which a percentage of our food sales go directly to that organization. Fourth Taco has worked with several non-profits including the local library. We want to give some things back to the community which is a big focus." Through these dine-to-donates, the community truly sees how wonderful Fourth Taco is at wanting to help out wherever they can, even if it is something small. The brothers made this business not only for the money, but to support the ones surrounding their daily lives no matter who they are. In addition to owning Fourth Taco, the brothers have two others restaurants including Cafe Martha and the Frosty Valley Country Club. If you ever feel like you want a different flavor, stop by one of the other two venues to get the same experience that you did from Fourth Taco.     As hectic as Fourth Taco can be, there are quite a few entertaining moments that the staff really enjoys. In the past, Club Skunk and a bunch of local drag queens came here to perform. It was the first time that Club Skunk made their debut which Kate believed to be a fun experience. Fourth Taco has monthly drag shows that are different every time including other events that occur in the evening. These have created many memories for the staff over the years. One of Fourth Tacos goals is to entertain customers while serving delicious food and drinks. At most established restaurants, employees don't stay employed for long periods of time due to a lack of camaraderie with their colleagues. However, the staff at Fourth Taco are a "tight nipped" group of people (as the manager quoted). Inside the restaurant the team always has each other's back, and on their days off they go on trips with one another to relax. Having companions like these encourages employees to stay with the establishment. Even though it's a small crew, the employees still enjoy every minute they are with Fourth Taco and want customers to experience that same feeling as well.

Four steps to Fourth Taco.

     After being exhausted from working all day the staff still pushes through by cleaning up the area every night. Everyone at Fourth Taco agrees that cleaning up is the worst part of the job, however Fourth Taco ensures an environment that is immaculate for each and every customer that comes through the door. Consistent sanitizing, sweeping, and mopping play a huge role into making the place spotless which takes over an hour to complete. No matter how long it takes to finish the task, the staff will always stay, to them this is like their second family. Kate keeps a detailed list of everything that needs to get done for the night, she even stays after hours to ensure that the restaurant is ready for the next day. Overall, Fourth Taco is known for their returning customers, extraordinary dishes, and a friendly environment. Whether you are having a bad day or not, Fourth Taco will always have a spot for you.