Word has traveled fast about the fresh Mexican food at Metzy’s Taqueria, Newburyport’s first food truck.
Though it has only been open for a few days, the delicious fare—like fish tacos drizzled with avocado lime sauce and steak tacos topped with golden crispy onion rings—already has a devoted following. On just its second day, for instance, a return customer was already pulling friends along, insisting they try the four-bean chili. Owner Erik Metzdorf says he has been pleasantly surprised by the warm welcome—but not too surprised. He spent a lot of time surveying local businesses to determine what might work best for his first food service venture.
Metzdorf, an enthusiastic home cook, found a great collaborator in Brad DeLibero, a Johnson & Wales grad and former owner of Mad Martha’s Beach Café, who developed the recipes and directs the mobile kitchen. “He’s got real game when it comes to serving high-quality products as quickly as we can,” Metzdorf says.
While the truck will be found in various locations around town, its weekend home base will be the Plum Island Airfield—good news for hungry beachgoers. In recognition of the area’s fragile ecosystem, Metzdorf worked closely with the city’s recycling manager to make sure he chose earth-friendly service products. “Our philosophy is less is more,” he says. “We don’t automatically put anything into a bag.”
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While the opening week was a bit rocky, with iPad malfunctions and some service snafus, customers don’t seem troubled—a good thing since everything is cooked to order. “Fresh is very important to us. We will never be McDonald’s,” Metzdorf says, adding that the goal is to get food served in under 10 minutes. Customers might not mind hanging around—Metzdorf is setting up some lawn games at the airfield, including bocce, croquet, and cornhole, the bean bag toss game popular with tailgaters, who already know good food can be made on four wheels.
Metzy’s will be cooking every weekend at the Plum Island Airport, 25 Plum Island Turnpike. For locations on other days, follow them on Twitter @MetzysTaqueria or at facebook.com/metzys