Vista Taco began its soft opening Wednesday at 7 Union Square on the Phillipsburg riverfront, next to Jimmy's Doggie Stand at the foot of the Northampton Street Bridge. Co-owner Kristina Haas said the restaurant plans a grand opening sometime the following week.
The riverside location looks across the Delaware River toward downtown Easton and the bridge, also known as the Easton-Phillipsburg Free Bridge, according to WFMZ. Haas and co-owner Rojelio Romero chose Vista Taco for the broad, scenic view the site offers. An earlier WFMZ report had anticipated an early-August opening; the timeline shifted before this week's soft launch.
Waterfront Planning and Bridge History
A 2018 draft redevelopment plan from the Town of Phillipsburg describes the Union Square District as an area along the Delaware River. That planning context is separate from Vista Taco’s private opening.
The Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission says a separate rehabilitation of the Northampton Street Bridge between Easton and Phillipsburg took place from late 2021 to late 2023. The commission also notes the bridge was designated a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark in 1995.
A Family Tie to La Maya and El Charro del Rio
Co-owner Rojelio Romero previously earned acclaim at La Maya Mexican restaurant in Hellertown, which has operated for two years, and opened El Charro del Rio in Milford, New Jersey, about six years ago. Haas, a hospitality industry veteran with extensive hotel sales experience, calls Vista Taco La Maya's little brother. Executive chef Andrés Meza helped develop Vista Taco's menu after also helping curate La Maya's.
Tacos are central to the menu, including pork and chicken trompo cooked on a vertical rotisserie. Haas said the style is traditional in central Mexico and originated in Puebla. Most tacos come on corn tortillas made on-site in the open kitchen.
Six Tacos, Six Luchadors
The six signature tacos are named for fictional Mexican professional wrestling characters, each represented by masked luchador artwork designed for the menu, Haas said. Options include El Charro, with ribeye, grilled cheese and avocado salsa verde; El Volador, with blackened shrimp and mango slaw; El Guardián, with grilled salmon, charred corn pico de gallo and pineapple; and vegetarian La Mariposa, with sweet potato, poblano and black beans.
Other offerings include corn ribs with chipotle mayo and chile piquín, guacamole in traditional and especial versions—with the latter featuring locally sourced wild mushrooms—and loaded nachos. Drinks include house-made lemonade, horchata and agua fresca. For dessert, Vista Crunch combines vanilla ice cream and chocolate in a taco-shaped waffle shell, with optional peanuts or Mexican-colored sprinkles.
Renovated Riverfront Space, BYOB Setup
The restaurant is in a renovated space formerly occupied by The Barbecue Boys, which continues to operate in south Bethlehem. Work included updates to counters, ceiling tiles, paint, furniture and bathrooms. Vista Taco is BYOB, with indoor counter and table seating for around 20, seasonal outdoor seating, and dine-in and takeout service.
Vista Taco's hours are 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 2 p.m. to 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday. Haas said the restaurant also plans seasonal dining on a rooftop deck, where guests can socialize and take in views of the bridge, river and Easton.
