The Summer of Taco | Petunia's Silver Jalapeño

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Oh, the glory. Fish tacos at Petunia's.

This week, once again, I get to show you just how new to Chattanooga I can be sometimes. A confession: I've only recently learned the difference between Red Bank and East Ridge (something about the "R" confuses me), and for the most part, I've been able to write them both off as less-than-fascinating. Once again, I stand corrected. And I have a nice woman named Petunia to thank.

Petunia is the namesake for a Red Bank novelty, Petunia's Silver Jalapeño, a small camper parked along Signal Mountain Road that serves barbecue, grilled everything, and most importantly, fish tacos.

The tacos come double wrapped in firm corn tortillas, which Petunia informed us get individually pressed on a panini maker inside the camper. True to the outdoors-y feel, each one is stuffed with tilapia grilled on a barbecue in the "backyard." They come topped with a homemade 5-pepper remoulade, cabbage, corn relish, black beans, and a bit of tomato. On the side: corn chips and a generous portion of homemade queso.

And the result is unspeakably good. The roadside vibe helps a lot, too, as does Petunia's genuine sweetness. But Petunia's isn't a Mexican restaurant, at all, and in fact, the only tacos you can get there are of the fish variety. So how does the place stack up with the other Summer of Taco™ competitors?

Petunia, left, makes the Silver Jalapeno so much more than just a trailer.

Chattarati Totals: Petunia's Silver Jalapeño - Fish Tacos
Average: 4.39
Presentation and Experience: 4.35
Construction: 3.83
Quality of Ingredients: 4.65
Flavor Balance: 4.63
Creativity and Authenticity: 4.50

And the scores from our individual judges:

Veronique Bergeron
Overall: 4.80
Presentation and Experience: 5.00
Construction: 4.00
Quality of Ingredients: 5.00
Flavor Balance: 5.00
Creativity and Authenticity: 5.00

Mia Bergeron — Guest Judge
Overall: 4.80
Presentation and Experience: 4.50
Construction: 4.50
Quality of Ingredients: 5.00
Flavor Balance: 5.00
Creativity and Authenticity: 5.00

Stephen Clay
Overall: 3.50
Presentation and Experience: 4.00
Construction: 3.50
Quality of Ingredients: 4.00
Flavor Balance: 2.5
Creativity and Authenticity: 3.50
Comment: "Sauce swamped other ingredients"

Elana Gulas — Guest Judge
Overall: 4.70
Presentation and Experience: 4.50
Construction: 4.00
Quality of Ingredients: 5.00
Flavor Balance: 5.00
Creativity and Authenticity: 5.00

Andy Johns — Guest Judge (TFP)
Overall: 4.30
Presentation and Experience: 5.00
Construction: 3.50
Quality of Ingredients: 4.00
Flavor Balance: 5.00
Creativity and Authenticity: 4.00

Joe Lance
Overall: 4.20
Presentation and Experience: 4.25
Construction: 3.50
Quality of Ingredients: 4.50
Flavor Balance: 4.50
Creativity and Authenticity: 4.25

Jessica Martin — Guest Judge
Overall: 4.80
Presentation and Experience: 4.00
Construction: 5.00
Quality of Ingredients: 5.00
Flavor Balance: 5.00
Creativity and Authenticity: 5.00

David Morton
Overall: 3.60
Presentation and Experience: 3.50
Construction: 3.00
Quality of Ingredients: 4.00
Flavor Balance: 3.75
Creativity and Authenticity: 3.75

Katherine Nielsen — Guest Judge
Overall: 4.50
Presentation and Experience: 4.00
Construction: 4.50
Quality of Ingredients: 5.00
Flavor Balance: 5.00
Creativity and Authenticity: 4.00

Adrienne Royer
Overall: 4.10
Presentation and Experience: 4.75
Construction: 2.50
Quality of Ingredients: 3.75
Flavor Balance: 4.50
Creativity and Authenticity: 5.00

Melinda Taylor — Guest Judge
Overall: 4.70
Presentation and Experience: 4.50
Construction: 4.50
Quality of Ingredients: 5.00
Flavor Balance: 4.50
Creativity and Authenticity: 5.00

Laura Winn — Guest Judge
Overall: 4.05
Presentation and Experience: 4.00
Construction: 3.25
Quality of Ingredients: 5.00
Flavor Balance: 4.00
Creativity and Authenticity: 4.00

So, after Petunia's, the Summer of Taco™ rankings fall together like this:

1. Petunia's Silver Jalapeño 4.39


2. Taco Mamacita 3.94


3. TacoRico 3.79


4. La Alteña 3.72


5. Cancun 1.92

See what Urbanspoon users have to say about Petunia's Silver Jalapeño:

Editor's note: We checked, because the borderlines in this area are not very easily ascertained, and Veronique is correct. The establishment is inside Red Bank's city limits—by some 183.7 feet.