Tacomida Opens In Shelton

SHELTON, CT — A new taco-oriented restaurant owned by two Connecticut restaurant veterans recently opened near the foot of the Derby-Shelton Bridge in downtown Shelton. Tacomida hopes to crack a relatively uncracked market for high quality tacos in town with a focus on small plates.

Co-owners Hartin Ballabani and Paul Ganassini started working together around 20 years ago, including a stint at Barcelona Wine Group. A shared vision of a restaurant in an area outside of a big city brought them together again.

“It’s been a fun trip so far to start this and get it up and running,” Ganassini, a Shelton High graduate said. “We are feeding off the excitement of the patrons.”

The Shelton-Derby area has seen an explosion of popular restaurants and bars in recent years including the likes of The Hops Company, Dew Drop Inn and Bad Sons Beer Co. to name a few. Ballabani and Ganassini heard about the location being vacant, checked it out and decided they liked it for a restaurant location.

The interior is a retro-industrial concept with exposed wood and steel beams, corrugated metal and reclaimed wood from a barn in northern Connecticut. The walls feature photos of businesses from Shelton’s past. It also features a patio seating area.

Hartin said they decided to go with the theme because it is something that pays homage to the Shelton area’s manufacturing past and that the theme can be long-lasting and not something that has to be changed a few years down the road.

Tacomida primarily has smaller plates that are meant to be shared.

“People want to look at a menu and get a couple items, there is a bounty of different flavors that can be shared,” Ganassini said.

There are six tacos on the regular menu including mahi mahi, baja fish, chicken borracho and pork carnitas. Small plates include plantain and goat cheese croquettes, mixed mushroom empanadas, shrimp chalupa and chicken tamal. Bigger plates include grilled branzino, roasted half chicken, pork chops and vegetable enchiladas.

The menu also features 10 speciality cocktails, homemade sangria, and an assortment of tequila, other spirits, wine and beer.

Tacomida isn’t just a weekend bar and strives to be an everyday restaurant that is a fun place for friends and family while also offering takeout options, Ganassini said.

The restaurant will host a tequila educational event this summer and will start its brunch menu in the fall, Ballabani said. They are also exploring other options down the road such as catering and a food truck.

Tacomida is open from 11:30 a.m. to 1 a.m. Monday through Thursday, 11:30 a.m. to 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday and 11:30 a.m. to 12:00 a.m. Sunday. It is located at 50 Bridge St. Suite 4.