I can’t be the only one who spontaneously gets a midweek craving for Mexican food. Sometimes a change of scenery from the typical Rand bowl or Pub cheeseburger feels essential.
In such situations, students will usually make their way over to San Antonio Taco Company, Taco Mama or maybe even Chuy’s. But if you’ve already exhausted the options for Mexican food that 21st Avenue has to offer, look no further than the Gulch for Nashville’s newest addition to its collection of Mexican restaurants: Superica. This Tex-Mex inspired restaurant started in Atlanta and has only four other locations in the U.S., making its Nashville location a hidden gem.
I had a bit of trouble getting a table at Superica nearly six months after its opening –a good sign, to say the least – but when I took the first bite of the two sweet and savory salsa options kicking off the meal, I knew exactly why this place is such a hot commodity.
The menu is not too extensive, but it includes the staples of Tex-Mex cuisine, and everything on it is guaranteed to impress. Our party ordered queso to compliment the salsa, which definitely topped my list of favorites. I ordered the veggie enchiladas, while my friend and fellow Tex-Mex connoisseur Kristen Nutter ordered the tacos de barbacoa. Both came in the perfect portion size with sides to compliment them. Superica is not the kind of Mexican cuisine where you leave feeling guilty about the inconceivable amount of calories you just consumed. The enchiladas seemed lighter, toasted to perfect crispness and topped with just the right amount of melted cheese. The tacos de barbacoa, which give SatCo a run for its money, were “extremely fresh and encased in a warm corn tortilla,” Nutter said.
The retro aesthetic of the waiting area greeted us as we overlooked a dining room dressed up by southwestern color tones and modern-rustic furnishings. Providing a similar ambiance to Nada, our trip was definitely a little more pricey than your average Mexican restaurant, but the combination of southwestern flair and stellar Tex-Mex dishes made our short outing away from campus completely worthwhile.
