Taco Mesa, chef Beatriz Gonzalez's authentic taco restaurant

Beatriz Gonzalez's taco restaurant was (finally!) a long time coming. Years, in fact, since the project first germinated in her mind and came to fruition during confinement. The Mexican chef had in fact launched a pop-up taco delivery and takeaway during the health crisis, and it had been a great success.

This was enough to convince her to throw herself wholeheartedly into the adventure of a new restaurant in Paris, as she already owns two establishments, Neva Cuisine and Coretta, which tend to focus on French cuisine. Opening her own Mexican restaurant in Paris was an obvious choice for the chef, with a desire to transform the great classics of Mexican street food into dishes to be enjoyed a mesa ('at the table').

Very attached to her roots, the chef likes to recharge her batteries in her native country, where she draws inspiration for her creations. From her childhood flavours, she draws sweet and savoury dishes, her speciality, always with a small dose of acidity; and it's with heart that she cooks tacos, tamales, ceviches and other authentic Mexican dishes.

Beatriz Gonzalez comes from a long line of restaurateurs. After spending her childhood in the kitchens of her family's two restaurants, she moved to France at the age of 18 to study at the Institut Bocuse, where she immersed herself in French culture and met her future husband and business partner, Matthieu Marcant, before moving on to starred restaurants such as Lucas Carton and La Grande Cascade.

With Taco Mesa, Beatriz Gonzalez unveils a colorful restaurant in the 10th arrondissement. On the menu: excellent guacamole (9€) prepared in the purest of traditions; porky quesadillas , topped with cheese and spit-marinated pig or topped with chipotle (smoked jalapeño peppers; 16€ for 4) that pack a punch; and above all, a host of tacos, each one better than the next.

Generously garnished, they reveal colors and flavors from elsewhere: confit pig tacos, spit-roasted pig tacos, simmered beef tacos to dip in a sapid consommé - definitely the fashion in Paris at the moment - and vegetarian tacos (at the moment, cabbage prepared in the manner of effiloché), a winning bet. All are served with a trio of homemade sauces that heat up more or less according to their color: salsa verde, salsa roja and salsa mango habanero!

For a touch of sweetness, churros (€5.50) are a must, in this case spiced up with cinnamon. And in the glasses, Mexican-style margaritas, tequila and mezcal shots, and Corona on draught.

The muy caliente address in the neighborhood!

This test was conducted as part of a professional invitation. If your experience differs from ours, please mention it in the comments.