Grade: C
“Do you know where you are?” asked our waiter after approaching our table.
An appropriate question, given that Tediberto’s, a gluten-free vegan diner, is discreetly tucked into a small suite adjacent to The Nash.
Tediberto’s unusual environment overpowers the actual food. It’s not the kind of place to go to enjoy a meal. It’s a place to socialize and also eat some unique food.
The diner feels more like a hookah lounge with a midnight-snack-sized portions than a full-fledged restaurant. The music was obnoxiously loud for an environment that otherwise promoted a social experience.
Most of the light in the dim dining room emanated from pastel green, blue and purple rope lights underneath each of the booths’ opaque surfaces. Other than the glowing booths, there were three or four smaller tables filling the remaining space in the dining room.
Tediberto’s has a small amount of bar seating, but does not serve alcohol. It was decoratively cluttered with random objects, strange sculptures and religious candles.
Colored lanterns hung from the ceiling with an array of dangling objects like glass spheres and plants.
The dark room didn’t hinder the ability to notice the unique décor. A large, silver metallic couch was positioned against a wall with about 20 framed mirrors of different shapes and sizes.
Tediberto’s serves 100 percent vegan and gluten-free Mexican-inspired cuisine.
Tediberto’s water is pleasantly unique. A combination of mint leaves, cucumber and lemon slices were soaked in the water, creating a refreshing and exotic flavor that can be mistaken for bubblegum flavoring.
Tacos dominated the menu. Each dish was presented similarly: a petite rectangular plate was filled with two medium-sized tacos in soft tortilla shells and a little cabbage and lettuce.
The hot Thai tacos were described as being filled with tofu, Thai spices, onions, carrots, red peppers and cilantro. None of those toppings was noticeable in taste or to the eye.
The Thai spices gave a little kick of flavor, but it may have overpowered the cilantro. The texture of the tofu was disappointing as well, with small pieces that had a mushy consistency as opposed to big chunks of firm tofu.
Tediberto’s offers a “Taco of the Day,” which was a green chili and potato taco. The chili could have been a little more firm, but the mushiness and moisture was balanced by the appropriately sized chunks of potato.
Though the texture was good, the taste was overwhelmingly spicy. While the amount of heat in the chilis may have been a good pair for a more flavorful companion, the potato could not compete for a place on the palette.
The tortillas added to the overall Tediberto’s taco experience. They were served warm and were flavorful.
Tediberto’s tacos are all reasonably priced, with $5 “Taco of the Day” specials.
The grapefruit soda might have well been labeled “Sprite.”
The dishes were served one by one as they were prepared, resulting in a long wait for the final tacos. Considering that there were only four customers in the eatery, it’s hard to imagine how long it would take to get a meal on a crowded night. A midnight-snack visit to Tediberto’s seems more logical than a dinnertime one.
Contact the critics at cameron.robello@asu.edu and dana.demarco@asu.edu
