A1 Hop Shop - 144th st
A1’s nachos are edible but disappointingly riddled with unnecessary mistakes. Everything from the tin pan they are served in to the ratio of ingredients need to be changed.
There are so many toppings one could go heavy on but cilantro is not one of them. While parsley is a good balancing element, having a substantial amount in every bite without a more dominant flavor makes for a bitter bite. Furthermore the sour cream was on top of the cilantro so if you wanted to remove some, you would be removing the cream… Either the cilantro needs to be reduced by at least a half or it needs to be accompanied by a protein and or legumes.
Other ingredients include banana peppers, olives, sour cream, and cheddar. Because of the small amount of ingredients, a few more banana peppers would have bolstered the flavor profile.
The chips were nice and crisp but slightly burnt. Adjusting the heat or length of cook time needs to be looked into.
The tin they are served in was definitely an issue. Since there are toppings all the way to the edge, you can’t really dive into any place and pick up a solid chip with toppings. You have to start from one end and make your way through them. This makes it a bit more difficult for multiple people to share them. A more conventional plate allows people to tackle them from multiple angles without hands intercepting or having to wait turns. A shallower round or oval solution needs to be explored.
Coming in at $7 and prepared by the bar tender, one cannot expect a complex masterpiece. Though, reducing the cilantro and changing the way they are served would not change effort or resources needed.
These nachos get a 1 out of 5 chips. If the issues are addressed and 1 or 2 more toppings are added, I could definitely see these nachos receiving more chips in the future!
Reviewed December 2022