An upscale taqueria known for great tacos and cocktails has closed its only location in Dallas. According to a release, Bartaco closed its Preston Center restaurant for good, with the shutter taking place after dinner service on Tuesday, March 10.

A location in Fort Worth remains open.

"We want to thank our hardworking team and our loyal Dallas guests for a great year," said general manager Javier Montemayor in a release. "Though we are closing our doors in Dallas, our Fort Worth location will continue to serve up our signature fresh food and specialty cocktails in a relaxed, coastal atmosphere."

Bartaco first introduced its upscale take on tacos and street food to DFW in June 2018 when it opened a location in Fort Worth's West Bend area. The Dallas location opened in December 2018.

Their menu includes tacos made with gourmet ingredients like ahi tuna and sesame rib eye, as well as veggie options such as cauliflower with romanesco sauce, nicely priced at $2.50 and $3.t0 a pop. Their margaritas are also good, made with fresh juices.

But the company has had some ups and downs, including changes in ownership. In 2018, their parent company Barteca, which also owns Barcelona Wine Bar, was acquired by our very own Del Frisco's Restaurant Group. Barely a year later, Connecticut-based L Catterton bought Del Frisco's, including the Barcelona Wine Bar and Bartaco chains. There are currently 21 Bartaco restaurants in 13 states.

Bartaco also opened in DFW with a very odd approach to marketing in which they rejected stories prior to their opening. Here's an email from their previous PR agency, Quinn PR:

"The brand works on a unique strategy around its openings to ensure that the guests can discover the neighborhood gem on their own and often do not allow for any coverage prior to the opening, but rather thereafter."

So you have a company unknown to the Dallas area that was turning down free PR before they opened. Smart!

Beyond their inner struggles, they opened in Preston Center, a notoriously tough neighborhood for restaurants. That space at 6130 Luther Ln. was previously occupied by Kent Rathbun's Blue Plate Kitchen, which lasted five years before Rathbun turned it into a catering kitchen.

Bartaco has offered its Dallas managers and team members continuing employment at other locations where available, and support throughout the transition.