I know, I know. Hub 51 has been around. So, now I choose to post about it? I was there this weekend with a group of young bevies after a fashion event at Saks. I knew Hub 51 would be a crowd pleaser. I’ve been there a bunch…for drinks, for fish tacos, for the guac. And that’s just what I’m talking about Beauties…the guacamole, on anything and everything Hub. For starters, the guacamole is damn good…and those chips! The super-thin, crispy chips are, unfortunately, so addictive. This is where my story begins of being trapped by Hub 51's tortillas. It's just not fair. I sat down with the best of intentions to not overload on chips when the young “Skinny Gang” ordered the Pulled Chicken nachos. So, “I can handle it,” I thought. I even refrained from ordering a cocktail because I’m off the juice for a month. But then the nachos were delivered to our table and, well, it’s kind of like a tax write off, right? So, I dipped in and would pay later. One thing I had to agree with the Skinny Gang on…there are just certain days you need nachos. It was one of those weeks when nachos felt right, and tasted even better. The bowl was big but wasn’t overloaded like some nachos can be. The key here is the combo of flavors: pulled tender chicken, guacamole, white cheddar, a roasted tomato salsa and fresh jalapenos. 

My main entree was the Chicken Enchilada Stack. It’s not that anything on the menu is “over-the-top” or immensely innovative but it’s bar food done really well with great ingredients. It’s the place that keeps you coming back because you know you can get good food in a hip atmosphere. The girls loved it. A typical Beauty and Her Feast move, I pulled apart my meal figuring out how to make it at home until the waiter told me they make the tortillas fresh for each dish. OK. Forget that. I know how much work it is to make tortillas. The dish is layered like this: tortilla, layer of braised, pulled chicken, tortilla, layer of guacamole & roasted corn, tortilla, covered in cheese and baked served with salsa verde and pico de gallo. Simple, I know but the great flavor comes from a combination of the braised meat and the fresh tortillas. The other stuff helps too. I can pull off everything but making the tortillas at home. 

The tacos are served with the same warm tortillas and I was lucky to sneak a taste of their pork shoulder. I’m in for the braised pork tacos my next visit to Hub 51. For more info on Hub 51 or to view their menu, click here.