RailSpur, a transformative micro district in Seattle that has been historically preserved for modern urban living, opened Tacolisto, an authentic new taqueria and bar. Helmed by Chef Gabriel Rico, Tacolisto serves homemade Mexican street tacos, unique ceviches, and refreshing, creative cocktails in a lively, fun atmosphere. The restaurant and bar opens today and marks the fourth exciting new retail concept at RailSpur, designed to serve as a community gathering spot and reinvigorate the historic Pioneer Square neighborhood.
“We are thrilled to introduce Tacolisto’s fresh and innovative Mexican menu to the Seattle community,” says Mike Wilcox, Partner and Chief Financial Officer at Work+Shop, who concepted the restaurant. “Our hope is that Tacolisto becomes a go-to destination for locals, working professionals, and visitors to gather in a laid-back, social atmosphere, whether they’re grabbing lunch between meetings or enjoying late-night cocktails and bites on the patio.”
Offering a full spectrum of dining experiences, the restaurant boasts 110 seats for casual dining – including 75 indoor seats, which are a mix of dining tables, cozy lounge tables, banquets, and booths – 10 full-service bar seats, and 25 patio seats set amidst RailSpur’s activated alleyway. The fast-casual concept accommodates every crowd from the buzzing mid-week lunch scene to the after-work happy hour crew to groups gathering pre- or post-game from the nearby Stadium District. Upon entering, patrons are greeted by an activated counter and oversized menu, where guests can choose to order food to-go or to enjoy from the comfortable, art-filled restaurant. In warm weather, guests can enjoy dining alfresco under the alley’s string lights and surrounded by the historic buildings of RailSpur’s activated micro district.
Designed by Streetsense, a leading group of design-minded consultants, Tacolisto’s interiors are intended to mimic the freshness and vibrancy of the menu. Brimming with authentic character and bold colors, the space pays homage to the historic building’s original charm by preserving the exposed brick and interior beams, while adding modern accents, patterned tiles, and lively art. All of RailSpur celebrates and contributes to Seattle’s dynamic art scene, and this sentiment is carried over into Tacolisto art-filled space, curated by ARTXIV, which features notable art such as a mariachi-inspired, life size mural by local artist Mauricio Ramirez and Japhy Witte.
Offering daily lunch and dinner service, Tacolisto presents an elevated take on classic Mexican dishes with exceptional ingredients, innovative provisions, and a commitment to responsibly and locally sourced seafood. Chef Rico, who joins Tacolisto after cooking for RH restaurants in Chicago, New York, Palm Beach, and Yountville, pulled inspiration from his Mexican heritage and family’s cooking growing up. Menu highlights include a large selection of signature street tacos served a la carte on house made heirloom corn tortillas, such as the Baja Fish Taco with beer battered Alaskan Cod, chipotle aioli, cabbage slaw and spicy pickled onions; the Carne Asada Gringa with marinated skirt steak, green chile chimichurri, avocado, crispy cheese, onions and cilantro; and the Quesa Birria Taco, which is a specialty item only served on Saturdays and is comprised of a red chile dipped tortilla with slow cooked red chile short rib, chihuahua cheese, arbol-tomato salsa and consommé. Honoring Tacolisto’s location just blocks from the water, the menu also includes a large variety of seafood-forward dishes like Rockfish Aguachile comprised of sashimi style rockfish, spicy broth of lime, serrano chiles and cucumber, avocado, and fresh garnishes; Coctel Campechango Clasico with poached Mexican blue shrimp, lump crab, smoky tomato-chipotle dressing, avocado, jicama and cucumber, and cilantro served with fresh-made tortilla chips and crackers; and Tuna Ceviche served with fresh Hawaiian Albacore tuna, roasted tomato, lime, avocado, jalapeño, red onion, cilantro and Mexican extra virgin olive oil. Delicious sweets inspired by Chef Rico’s mother’s recipes include a decadent Tres Leches comprising of sponge cake soaked with three milks, chantily cream and mango and Coconut Arroz Con Leche, a creamy rice served with diced mango and toasted coconut.
Tacolisto’s impressive cocktail program is anchored by freshly squeezed juices featuring peach, pineapple, lime, mango and more, including La Fresa Margarita with el Jimador Reposado, Ancho Reye, strawberries, combier, lime and agave and the Mangonada made with Lunazul Reposado, lime juice, mango puree, and chamoy. Beyond tequila and margaritas, Tacolisto boasts a robust list of locally crafted and internationally imported beers and wine.
“Tacolisto’s menu began with a soulful connection to the land and sea – combining my favorite Mexican recipes from childhood with Seattle’s reputation for incredibly fresh seafood,” adds Chef Gabriel Rico. “We’re excited to become an authentic neighborhood destination, where guests can connect with friends and family over shareable and delicious Mexican cuisine.”
Primely located just steps away from the city’s major transportation hubs, iconic Seattle attractions and sports stadiums, Tacolisto aims to become a regular drinking and dining destination for nearby light rail commuters, visitors coming from the pier, and neighbors in the Pioneer Square community and beyond. Tacolisto is an exciting addition to RailSpur’s current retail options, which include Cassette Club cycling hub, Heard Coffee, and Beerdega, a highly curated neighborhood store, providing artisan pantry essentials and local beer and wine.
RailSpur is owned and developed by Urban Villages, a leading real estate developer and environmental steward. Urban Villages designed the LEED certified 115 S. Jackson Street incollaboration with SHED Architecture + Design, a Seattle-based architecture firm specializing in sustainable design principles and building practices. Tacolisto, Cassette Club, Heard Coffee and Beerdega are managed by Work + Shop, an industry leading hospitality development and management company. Urban Villages created RailSpur as Seattle’s first micro district, making it possible for the historic neighborhood of Pioneer Square to meet the renewed demand for urban living in the fastest growing city in the country.
